So where is the hope?

 I want you to know I still love you
Even though we've been dancing on broken glass,
Parade all your memories, for the moments we shared
Never fade away I want you to know I still love you
When I walk down the memory lane
Where the night swears its love to the stars
There will be no more tears today...ultraviolet...

In this age of uncertainty, suffering, perpetual violence and war (not unlike twenty century Europe), What and Who can show us the way toward contemplative peace. . . .  In a world of deadly diseases and ecological disasters. Further to be added to things that may worry you this day. 

My friends guess what the internet has on you. Your address, your history, your relationships, ( glad they got them thought didn't have any, l'm not most social butterfly). Social media got your views, well that should keep them very busy, All filed, all accessible, all without your permission. ALL right.

LIFE is complicated messy plus hard work those huge things pick any from above. There the smaller concerns we faced inflation. Immigration lack of social cohesion, damaged relationships, poverty, poor housing. LIFE IS TOUGH. So where is the hope.

It's in your resilience.

It's in your strength that overcame the bully.

It's on your efforts to be a good neighbour.

It's in the value you place on friendship.

It's that gift you frequently add to the food bank.

Where is the Love it's in you all you hope for others. It's in the love you revieved. It's you kicking the darkness till it bleeds the light.

You..yes it's in you.

 So where is the hope?

It's in every waking moment, its in you and l as we get angry at injustice. It's when stand in wondering at nature. It also when we shake a fist, (metaphorically) and cry to the heavens. It's when we wonder at the joy of nature. When we look up but can't comprehend the stars. It's in the lyrics of a song we share with others.

It's a difficult world one that needs us to live here in our place in it, valuing each other hoping and praying for a better day.

Are you functioning yet struggling knowing you’ve lost some focus?

Nature is tough bit like LIFE at times there is magnificent even in death. These whales were part of a pod that lost its direction therefore lost its LIFE.We are the same if we lose our focus, direction, connections with LIFE source we die. Some people exist in this sense but they are not alive. What about you are you living? 

Are you functioning yet struggling knowing you’ve lost some focus?

Maybe just lost this sense of who you are where you should be going.

It's normal how you return kind of worried that the Author of this blog, (also the Author of his own LIFE). I don't want to be one of those people who in the moment make you feel worse. We all, l include the Author here, we have all been in moments get stuck in where we lose something.

But here's the rub the thing they often forget to tell you. Your getting the experience now.

You are experiencing something you will come out of , where you are there presently.

Maybe you should pause. Recognise the strength you've gained and refocus.

Enjoy some silence.Ignore zoom meetings. Arrange to meet someone face to face and try some peer counseling nothing deep with a period of maximum 45 minutes a cuppa someplace.

Away from your home into uncomfortable enjoy a little trip to be with someone. Agree to share.Agree to listen.

AND WE.

And we watched as thousand died in Iran for protesting about Life experienced.

And we watched as Palestine Christian Church members were killed like 'Blood Brothers' spoken about by Cachour Cachour in 1947.

And we stayed silent as immigration spiralled out of control, women and girls lost there life's on streets of UK.

And we knew grooming of those vulnerable girls from social service authority homes was happening.

And we voted into power those who were friends with Pedophiles, gave them influence and position.

And we observed the empty Turkish barbers knowing mostly shop front for drugs and cocaine.

And we allowed high street to be places money making criminal gangs exploit situation so society is worse.

And we stood listening to a WOKE  narrative become Alma matra for police forces.

And we forgot about justice

And we no longer sought Peace.

And we no longer read books we no longer prayed we no longer sought God.

And we wonder why this became the place we wish we were not part of... 

Jewish person attacked in Slough near the Bath road.

 "They are not going to come after you. No one is going to jail for attacking you. You are not important enough." 

'We live in our cocoons where we try and pretend things are safe, we kid ourselves they are, when actually they are not.

'And then this happened. I was telling myself off for being irresponsible for going around as a visible Jew and thinking that I would be OK.'

So states the Jewish person attacked in Slough near the Bath road. My boss was a survivor of the concentration camp. From 1974 until his sad death in 1991 l was apprenticed into the tailoring trade. Learnt a profession. Still practiced this week to alter my Gozo jacket.

 I learnt a trade in poorly paid shop business with long hours requiring skill, patience, the hours were slow. As the ,ready made clothing market grew, our trade in bespoke men's suits died a quick ending. By then l had moved on to a profession going to collage then 3 years in practice based university degree.

With my Polish manager Bronislaw learnt about LIFE. Friendship values l was not just apprenticed into tailoring trade. But apprenticed into LIFE weekly sitting with many survivors who contributing to society. Told me no they shared with me the journey of de-stress and despair. As we drank cups of tea, ate apple strubble cake, how much valued those chats. Followed by laughter. Somber expression silence then work. They Journeyed to new life. From German concentration camp to liberation via Tehran to UK to full frontal action in 'operation Overlord'. Fast forward to Slough 2026, we are again in the evil place many died to prevent it's growth. Lies decite wickedness attacks hatred.....Daily.

Three men and a youth appeared at the Old Bailey today accused of destroying four Jewish community ambulances in an arson attack. 

MY THOUGHTS GOT INTERRUPTED BY THE ACTIONS OF MAD MEN.

Unpopular opinion honestly do have concerns. Yes really do feel for Rosenior. He could not gone to perform at Chelsea F.C. They are big placed soccer club `would he ever get another chance if he turned them down ? Hell yes serve your apprentice in the game work your way up the league positions. Too many young managers want the big shot position too soon. Perhaps this energetic human person lost his way in the process. He was a decent player half decent coach for Derby and Hull. Hull fans because of family connection would use a term like
`one of us`.

Look Laim Rosenior a nice guy, pleasant but also very arrogant, talks weirdly after match results appears studious, but wow he `lives inside his own head` therefore this approach creates lot of issues. Sometimes the manager of football club just needs to tell the team.." to smack the ball into the back of the net."

Less of the `emotional stamina and mental attributes` he comments about.

Rosenior lost 10 of his 23 games in charge, making him the quickest Chelsea manager to reach double-digit defeats since former England manager Glenn Hoddle recorded 10 losses in just 20 matches back in November 1993. Wow feels like lifetime away.

What feels like a very long time off work the Sun may have got its head on. Been good to see the sun finally clock in for a few shifts recently. Sneaking through our curtains in the morning, and lighting up the evenings again.

MY THOUGHTS GOT INTERRUPTED BY THE ACTIONS OF MAD MEN.

SUMMER SONGS AND LONG DAYS AHEAD.

Sun always shine`s
Down in my Rainbow Valley
There's one that's always mine
Down in my Rainbow Valley
You can love and share a dream
Beside that crystal stream
So leave me where the rainbow ends
In our valley

Bird's sweetest song
Comes from my Rainbow Valley
They sing the whole year long
Down in my Rainbow Valley
The flowers speak to me
An' say our love should be
And heaven knows sweet music flows
From our valley

Sometimes it just the lyrics that capture me in a song. Perhaps build or find a memory develops. Emotion stirs. But yes mostly lyrics that pull me into a song.

 

Worth a listen as well ....

We think that spirituality had passed from modern discussions, not evident but it's clear that in pop lyrics it vague, not evangelical or Biblical, but it's is present.

Take 'Pink', the pop star of several decades dance tracks very much part of her catalogue...but try this.  І think оf уоu when І thіnk аbоut forever

І hеаr а јоkе аnd І knоw you wоuld'vе tоld іt bеttеr
І thіnk оf уоu оut оf thе bluе whеn І'm wаtсhіng а mоvіе
Thаt уоu'd hаtе, yоu'd ѕаy it, you were never оnе tо hеѕіtаtе
Yоu wеrе аlwауѕ fіrѕt іn lіnе
Ѕо whу would іt bе different fоr heaven?
Вut І gоt а соuрlе questions
Іѕ there а bаr uр there where уоu'vе gоt а fаvоrіtе сhаіr?
Where уоu ѕіt with friends and talk аbоut thе weather?
Іѕ thеrе а рlасе уоu gо to watch thе sunset? 
Yeah, І know, you'll tell mе when І gеt there.

Deep resonate moving and painting picture of a kingdom, heavenly images natural storytelling. When arrive in heaven going to chat ,discuss do all sorts of natural everyday stuff in safe environment. Biblical no but worth reflection.

Proclaimers communicate often about Life, Love, and Relationships again spiritual directions in the brothers catalogue.

The air you breathe

Will be there after you're gone

Will be there after you're gone

Still be there after you're gone

The lochs and seas

Will be there after you're gone

Will be there after you're gone

Still be there after you're gone

Three score years and ten of joy and pain

Adds up to mayflies on the windowpane

The windowpane.

There a discussion that's generated,this story must be told. Narrative to share. Pointers to bigger picture deep stuff we must engage with. The directions in truth can't build a way through but there still clarity about big things happening. We could use other examples not from the Praise and Worship folders. But the 'storytellers liveing Life' are sharing thoughts here about death. 

While we discuss the live LIFE of pop stars the dairy accounts of breaking up. We may moan about relationships formed. But always something about extra parts of Life and issues. These narratives open up more conversations.