Another quick one...

I'm tempted to turn it into a quiz:

Here's an idea:  Have a listen to this song, then read Ecclesiastes.

There's a degree of pressure on us when we do that.

To “hold a mirror up to" is a phrase meaning “to take a look at oneself objectively to examine or reflect on things (issues) stemming from the reality of reflection; to reveal to someone about the way they look (differently) to the rest of the world (so that they can reflect upon themselves); expose, show up, bring to light (some (unpleasant) aspects to oneself)”.

Community done badly holds up images of the ideal alongside the mirror and tells us all the ways we don't measure up.

Sometimes songs just get an "AMEN!"

This is one of those. And I think it speaks for itself as a song... I'm not sure what I can add!

Anyone else feel it?

A short one today... Can't remember where I cam across this one, but it's quite catchy!

What will you say "Thank you" for today? What's on you list?
Does pain feature in your "Thank you"? Should it?
Who or what are you saying "Thank you" to?

They say that ignorance is bliss.

Sometimes we'd rather close our eyes and have everything go away.

Perhaps if we sleep things will be better when we wake. Someone will have magically fixed the problem.

I guess this song just draws together the thoughts that I've already had with "Bridge over troubled water" and "Eyes of a child".

Human kind has been on a journey round light:
We sat round a fire and told stories as communities and clans;
We moved indoors and read stories around the fireplace, or listened to them on the radio;
The radio got replaced by the television and we continued to have less responsibility in telling the story, though we were all still pointing in the same direction;
Nowadays the TV is still in the corner of the living room, and the seats still point towards it, and it ever continues to burn out a light and tell stories, but whilst it tells its stories I tune it out and disappear into the light of the screen in my hand. It tells stories, paints pictures and shows things to me. I experience them alone, along with millions of other people, and occasionally I send them to other people on social media so that they too can enjoy them alone.

I was on my way to a meeting somewhere new. The sat nav suggested I could either turn left or go straight. I went left because that looked like the more fun option. As I happily drove down the road I came across a work-horse pick-up truck doing a three-point turn in the road to avoid going through the ford. I ignored the signs and kept going. It was fun, it was deeper than it could have been, and my car miraculously made it through (even managing to be cleaner!). It was a win-win really, but it could have been expensive... Especially if it had been deeper and faster flowing.

The better option would have been to have carried on straight along the other route, or to have turned around before I got there. A less dangerous option would have been a bridge, or to wait until the ford was lower.

"I Do."
No caveat.
No grudge.
Not feeling like I have to, but because I want to and more than that, that I have the privilege to... I GET to... And I am free to!

That is the feeling that I had when I got married. I didn't feel like I had to say I do, but I really wanted to. And I knew the potential and privilege of it.

I wonder if that's the same thing when we are asked to say "I do" at things like church services, when we sign up to things in life?
Do we see the opportunity and potential excitement, or are we just saying it because we have to?

Because when we say it we open ourselves up to a whole lot more... What more could we get ourselves into?

Ever asked that question?

As a parent it is one of my regulars.

As someone who prays it is one of my regulars.

I wanna know you’re listening

If I’m talking to myself
I’m gonna find somebody else

Tell me, can you hear me?
I need you to hear me
Screaming out so loud
But my words don’t make a sound
Tell me, can you hear me?
Is anybody listening?

I’m done talking to myself
I’m gonna find somebody else.

Part 2...

​I was reading Nadia Bolz-Weber's article in response to the Asbury Revival, and what she said resonated with me:

As I said about "Any Love", I found love. I met God and I cannot shake that.
But there's no doubt in me that it's different now.
I'm not going to throw it away, but equally I can't deny the change.