Everyday Encounter...
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POV: You're on the cross next to Jesus. You're in anguish and your need release. Peace. And Jesus says to you "This day you will be with me in paradise." This is the feeling that washed over you:
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First Point:
Meditation is a good thing. Stop and dwell in the moment. Make space and pay attention. See what you hear. Music may help. Second Point: Elevator music isn't a bad thing. It can be there and unobtrusive and sometimes surprise us. What song would you have as background music in everyday life? I found this one whilst planning an Act of Worship for a Secondary School... On "Resilience" believe it or not...
Resilience isn’t mentioned in the bible. I tried to find a greek word as to what it means so that I could check in the geeky apps and things I use to make sure. The word that came back was this one… ελαστικότητα (Elastikótita) However you pronounce it, that first bit is where we get our word “Elastic” (I could tell that without looking it up) So what have I learned? Let's think about Elastic vs Plastic… Ever have one of those moments where you start listening to a song and you kind of recognise the voice but it just doesn't quite fit with the music you're hearing?
My friend Sarah introduced me to the Arctic Monkeys way back when she got their first album "Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not" before they properly made it big. And then I kept up with them into the second album, but after that they drifted off my radar. Coming back into listening in 2022 with "The Car" I realised I'd missed a lot. There was a whole musical journey that had gone on in the four albums in between! The voice was the same, but the rest of it left me thinking that I ain't quite where I think I am! Here's something you probably need to hear: In case nobody told you today: You're special In case nobody made you believe: You're special Well, I will always love you the same: You're special I'm so glad that you're still with us, Broken, but damn, you're still perfect Nothing I need to add. There’s a house that I regularly drive past that has John 3:3 on a big sign on the wall at the end of their drive. There’s a box next to it offering free bibles. The heart is there, but I would need to sit opposite and see what effect it actually has as an evangelistic endeavour. That said, it had an impact on me.
The verse is in the context of the story of Nicodemus, a religious man who is willing to ask questions of Jesus. He does it quietly and discerningly in the night, and Jesus invests the time in hearing what he’s saying, hearing what he perhaps isn’t saying, and helping him re-frame what is being asked. Nicodemus wants to know about the Kingdom of God. And here are a couple of key verses that Jesus comes back at him with, including the verse on the wall… Doddie Weir was retiring from Rugby when I started paying an interest in it. He's been more on my radar since he retired and since his MND diagnosis than he was before.
The tune of "Doddie's Dream" apparently was written without him in mind, but thinking about hope in 2020, and that we all needed a little hope. Doddie was someone who was bringing people hope through his charity and so it was later given his name. This one is about forgiveness. Watch this long, uncomfortable and difficult TED talk, and then have a listen to the song. |
Every-Day EncounterIf you'd rather listen and come to your own conclusions about the eclectic mix of songs I worked through in Lent 2023, here's the Spotify Playlist! Archives
September 2023
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