Saturday Catch-Up - 6th April 2019

I spent a lot of my time looking at blue.
The colour of my room and my mood:
Blue on the walls, blue out of my mouth;
The sort of blue between clouds, when the sun comes out,
The sort of blue in those eyes you get hung up about.

When that feeling of meaninglessness sets in,
Go blowing my mind on God:
The light in the dark, with the neon arms,
The meek He seeks, the beast He calms,
The head of the good soul department.

I see myself suddenly
On the piano, as a melody.
My terrible fear of dying
No longer plays with me,
for now I know that I'm needed
For the symphony.
(lyrics from 'Symphony in Blue' by Kate Bush)

Saturday Catch-Up - 30th March 2019

It's 2:15am as I sit and draft this blog post. It's a quiet night in the Winter Night Shelter, and all the guests are fast asleep. It's my last overnight duty as the Shelter shuts on Sunday.  I have the dulcet tones of Kate Bush on my headphones as I sit in the dark, blogging. I had quite a busy day today at work, however I achieved everything I set out to do. It's my turn to give something back tonight.

I am so full of energy, despite the weird hours I need to keep because of the shelter.

And I am feeling amazingly content.

I feel really blessed tonight.

A Cup Of Wisdom

The only true wisdom is in knowing you know nothing.
Socrates

In my dome of ivory,
A home of activity,
I want the answers quickly,
But I don't have no energy.
I hold a cup of wisdom,
But there is nothing within...
(lyrics from 'Sat In Your Lap' by Kate Bush)

In my current stage of recuperation from the recent round of hospital visits I am increasingly aware that I have a tremendous opportunity here to take stock of my life.

And, of course, I need God’s help. In fact, I don't want to move forward without it.

Does prayer guide my life, or do I just make a series of plans and then ask God to bless them?

Dear Lord, please guide me today. Help me not to act on my own wisdom, as I realise how often this is lacking... Help me to seek Your will in every situation. Amen.

Jeux Sans Frontières

Back in the Sixties and Seventies, I used to regularly watch "Jeux Sans Frontières", a European-wide television game show, where teams from a number of countries (usually dressed in outlandish costumes) competed against one another in a variety of bizarre games. In the UK the show was also known as It's a Knockout, the title of the BBC's domestic version.

The French title was the inspiration for Peter Gabriel's 'Games Without Frontiers' (1980), which featured the lovely Kate Bush on backing vocals. The song was a study of some of the silly behaviour we can see in adults. Immaturity, petty-mindedness.

On to the subject at hand. You know, I believe I can identify with what Peter was getting at in this song. I get more than a little concerned about some people's behaviour. They spend their time moaning and groaning about things that happen in their lives, but can't seem to get past this, to rise above it, even though I truly believe that they can. They choose to moan rather than actually do something about it.

And I also have a number of other friends who are genuinely trapped in their own circumstances, who would love things to be different and to be able to take action but simply cannot move. These are the folks who need to be empowered.

How can I help them both? By seeking to make a difference in their lives. And that's a whole different game. And I truly believe that's the sort of game God wants me to play!

A game without frontiers.

And it's possible! I've heard a lot lately about embracing life in all its fullness, living beyond the limits, beyond any self-imposed 'frontiers'. Its about recognising God's hand at work in this world. And of being a part of His work, wherever you are.

This sort of game can be played anywhere you like - in the workplace, the school, the home. Although it could be extremely costly...

Does that sound crazy to you? A bit bizarre?

Good. I must be on the right lines...

Z is for WaltZ

'Ran Tan Waltz' tells the story of a mother who shamelessly neglects her child in favour of 'riotous living'. The song was released as the B-side of Kate's 'Babooshka' single in 1980.

Y is for You're The One

'You're The One' was featured on Kate's album 'The Red Shoes' which was released in 1993. It's about one of those relationships where you can't live with them... and can't live without them...

X is for Christmas...

... so here's a Christmas record from Kate.

'December Will Be Magic Again' was released as a single in 1980.

W is for Wuthering Heights

Kate's first hit single 'Wuthering Heights' was based on the story of Cathy and Heathcliffe that was originally penned by Emily Bronte. She was originally inspired by a television adaptation, and went on to read the novel to "get the research right" before finishing the song.

It featured on Kate's debut album, 'The Kick Inside', which was released in 1978.

V is for Violin

A rock song in tribute to the stringed instrument, used throughout the ages in a variety of musical styles.  From 'Never For Ever'.

U is for Under The Ivy

'Under the Ivy' can be found on the B-side of the single to 'Running Up That Hill'. It's a terrific song, describing exactly the need for introverts (like myself) to find that quiet place away from the 'party'.

And the hope that - one day - that special place can be shared with another...

T is for There Goes A Tenner

This song tells the tale of a group of some small-time crooks who are gearing themselves up for that one big heist. When the time comes, fear overwhelms them and their bottle goes. And it all goes wrong....

Taken from 'The Dreaming', 1982

S is for Strange Phenomena

'Strange Phenomena' is a haunting song that explores unusual coincidences, premonition, and déjà vu. And this marks one of the starting places in my own spiritual path - one that eventually led me to faith...

The song was featured on 'The Kick Inside', released in 1978.

R is for Running Up That Hill

Originally titled 'A Deal with God', representatives at EMI were reportedly hesitant to release a song with that title. But that is essentially what it is... because we would get such a better point of view if men and women could swap roles for a while... if, through divine intervention, the soldier's wife could truly swap places with the soldier, and be 'Running Up That Hill'...

The original version was released as part of the 'Hounds of Love' album in 1984 and as a single in 1985. A new 2012 remix was released, premiering during the 2012 Summer Olympics closing ceremony. 

Q is for Quite tricky...

...because to my knowledge Kate hasn't written a song starting with Q. Yet.

So instead I give you 'Delius (Song of Summer)'. Featured on 'Never For Ever', it was inspired by the life of composer Frederick Delius and his relationship with Eric Fenby.

P is for People

'Them Heavy People' explores the worlds of spirituality and therapy, with a desire to learn as much as possible about your own motivations and about your God, while still young enough to do something about it.

A track from 'The Kick Inside', released in 1978.

O is for Oh England My Lionheart

The album 'Lionheart' (1978) takes its title from this track, 'Oh, England, My Lionheart', which illustrates the memories of a Second World War pilot after his plane is shot down. The full is full of particularly English imagery!

N is for Night-Scented Stock

A beautiful 51 second track from Kate's 'Never For Ever' album. It's an instrumental, showing yet another aspect to her songwriting.

M is for The Man...

Kate wrote 'The Man With The Child In His Eyes' when she was 13 - and recorded it at 16. It was her second UK chart single, reaching number six in the summer of 1978. 

L is for Lap

'Sat In Your Lap' is a song about man's eternal search for wisdom, for knowledge, for satisfaction, for success. So elusive... 

It was released as a single in 1981, and was included in Kate's album 'The Dreaming' in 1982.

A particular favourite of mine.

K is for The Kick Inside

The title track for Kate's debut album in 1978. 'The Kick Inside' is a really beautiful song - however on closer examination it contains some remarkably taboo subject matter (incest and suicide). It's one of the first to show the influence of Kate's folk music background - it's inspired by 'The Ballad of Lizie Wan'.