Apparently this guy busks on the streets of the town I grew up in.

I am not sure I like the song (a little to catchy for me!), but I do like the message!

There'd have to be something wrong with me not to agree with messages about positivity, perseverance and self belief!

I think if I was still in Sudbury and wandered past him playing, and caught these lyrics I'd stop and listen.

Resilience is one thing, but putting up with abusive and unloving behaviour is another.

Don't do it.
Keep vigilant.
Protect yourself.
Listen to trusted people who have your back and your heart.
Do something about the red flags.
Challenge what causes them, and if there is no change then call it out or walk away.

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…

Here's something you probably need to hear:

Nothing I need to add.

I've set out to start with music rather than themes, but sometimes there are patterns in the things we hear and observe. Sometimes because we're predictable in what we listen to, and sometimes it's because we're more aware of what we need to be aware of.... The more you think about yellow cars, the more you see!

This is another song about what's going on around us, and not being able to avoid it.
We shouldn't try and avoid it all.
This song is a little different though.

This one is about forgiveness.

Watch this long, uncomfortable and difficult TED talk, and then have a listen to the song.

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?

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.