I’m reading a book with this title (above) by John Philip Newell.
The book has many insights into the struggle that we have to remain faithful to Christ’s call to follow in his footsteps.
One part struck me today – where he recounts a dream that he had. He dreamt that he was running for president of the United States, Barack Obama was also running. In the dream he was waiting to go on and be interviewed about his campaign and his policies.
He was worried in the dream about how he was going to answer questions about economics and foreign affairs etc. How was he going to be able to have clear detailed answers that would satisfy the interviewers?
In the dream he realised that he wouldn’t have those kind of answers. This is what he says “There I had my realisation. I knew what my essential stance would be on every issue. Yes of course, I would require all sorts of detailed assistance from experts in the various fields, but I knew what would guide me in every decision in the dream.
I realised I would decide every issue from the standpoint of how it would affect all of us. I would ask not what is best for us alone – for our class, nation,, species – but what is best for the whole and for the relationship between all things – for every class, nation and species. The same would apply on every issue. The heart of the matter was profoundly straightforward.
Author: Jonnyfun.E
Now retired, and enjoying making music and writing. Living in Gloucester, historically an important port on the river Severn, and situated with The Forest of Dean and the Brecon Beacons to the west, and the beautiful Cotswolds to the east.
Songs For The ‘Recording Booth’
So, I go to a couple of songwriting circles. Once a month, we each are invited to bring a song that we are working on. We go round the circle and sing our songs, and listen to the feedback. The groups are a joy to be a part of. One of the group suggested a project that he calls ‘The Recording Booth.’
He has some expertise in the recording process, having just completed recording a self penned album of songs. He offered to record some of the songs, with a view to putting out an album that would reflect the work of the songwriting group.
The result is here. Six songwriters; six songs. None of use are professionals, but we are all involved locally in open mic nights, local folk clubs and small concerts.
For me, the experience of having someone else do the technical bits, as well as making suggestions, was invaluable. I have recorded my songs at home up to this point, but always been dissatisfied with the results,
See what you think …
https://gloucestersongwriters.bandcamp.com/album/compilation-2026-ebb-flow?search_item_id%3D734716703%26search_item_type%3Da%26search_match_part%3D%253F%26search_page_id%3D5482224145%26search_page_no%3D0%26search_rank%3D2
A Song For Ivan
Anew song from the last couple of weeks. It came from a guitar riff. I wasn’t sure of it would have words.
But as the days went on and I played the simple chord sequence over and over again, some words came – the first line.
After that, I think it more or less wrote itself.
A Song For Ivan
Take me to the mountain snows
Show me where the water froze
Lead me where the river flows
Clearer
Again
Clearer again
Clearer again
Take me to the shady groves
Show me where the forest slows
Lead me to the path that goes
Deeper
Again
Deeper again
Deeper again
Take me to the holy stones
Show me where the good wind blows
Lead me where the love-light grows
Stronger
Again
Stronger again
Stronger again
25 May 2026
Just Listen To Your Heart
I had some notes in the notebook where I keep scraps of lyrics.
I’m not sure if they really fit together, but I have the music all sorted and it might be a song. You never know.
I had the chorus somewhere in my notes – I couldn’t remember where it came from …
The verses are all about a guy called Sam. I saw him one day, and was struck by his serene face. He is someone who has known great suffering and difficulty, yet has a still centre. I was prompted to speak with him and tell him what I saw in his face. He seemed ok for me to have said that to him. He seemed happy to hear it. I don’t know if he would now remember that I had said it to him ?
The chorus is about darkness and light, and that sometimes we have to embrace the darkness. In the Hebrew Scriptures, God is sometimes hidden, or wrapped in darkness.
‘Rather than provide us with a neon sign in the sky, he envelopes himself in hosek and waits for us to search. Perhaps those who find are only those who notice his absence’ https://skipmoen.com/2015/12/the-hidden-god-2/https://skipmoen.com/2015/12/the-hidden-god-2/
I’m still not sure if it works as a song. I might save the two parts and use them another way ?
Chorus
When the night falls
Don’t be afraid of the dark
Some nights
the way is clear to me
When the day calls
Just listen to your heart
Some days
The light’s too bright to see
Verse 1
I see you in the crowd
When everything is loud
There’s a ring around you now
A place without a sound
Chorus
You have a special gift
I don’t know what it is
I seek you out to tell you what I see
You grip my arm and smile at me
You understand
Chorus
Bridge
Your face is shining
In this space in time
Your face is shining
In this space in time
Chorus
The Difference A Word Makes
I am still mystified, angered, frustrated, horrified.
That intelligent people will not, and for some reason think that they cannot, name it for what it is.
So what is that word?
What is that word that once used can change things ?
That word is genocide.
And I am, as I say, mystified as to why, after all this time, and with it still going on, our political leaders cannot bring themselves to speak the truth.
Today Is A Quiet Day
This is a companion poem to the Holy Saturday Poem that I posted a while ago.
The new, companion poem is partly inspired by a TV programme called The Pitt. (Spoiler Alert).
It’s set in the emergency ward of a hospital in Pittsburgh. This particular scene concerns an elderly man who is dying. His daughter is distraught and cannot let go, and keeps insisting that the doctors do more to save him, including intrusive procedures that simply keep him alive.
In the end, the siblings accept that they need to let their father go. Doctor Robbie, (played brilliantly by Noah Wylie) tells about four things that another wise doctor taught him. Four things that they could say to their father. I love you; thankyou; I forgive you; please forgive me.
These words unlock memories and emotions that allow them to be able to say goodbye.
In my prayer time today, I was reflecting on our lives now. In retirement, the pressure of work is no longer there. It’s not exactly ‘an empty day’ as in the Holy Saturday poem, but this is a different season of life. There’s a looking back element, as well as reflecting on the future. But in the end, it’s about living in the here and now.
A quieter time, with more space to simply ‘be.’
More space to listen.
More space to see the presence of Christ.
And God willing, to be the presence of Christ in some small way.
Here are the two poems.
Holy Saturday
Today is an empty day.
Yesterday was full
of waiting; for a trial to end;
a judgement to be given.
Following in his footsteps,
but only so far
and no further.
Behind the corner of a building,
I peer round
and draw back.
Fearful of being seen
Later I am told.
Today is an empty day.
Tomorrow will be full
of something
I cannot quite name.
The questions almost
shroud the wonder.
But in the end,
there is a room where we meet.
No more hiding
from myself
And he is there.
Holy Wednesday
Today is a quiet day.
Yesterday was full
of working; for an ending;
a judgement to be given.
Following in his footsteps
as far as I could,
and further if you showed me
It was enough to be like the teacher.
Listening
to the voice.
Seeing and being seen.
Shepherding the fold
Today is a quiet day.
Tomorrow will be full
of something
I cannot quite name.
Will the questions
still shroud the wonder
in the end ?
There is a place where we will meet.
No more hiding;
face to face
And he is there
Donal Trump Said He Was …
Donald Trump said he was “not at all” concerned about committing possible war crimes as he again threatened to destroy Iran’s bridges and power plants if Tehran did not meet his deadline of Tuesday 8pm ET (midnight Tuesday GMT) to reopen the strait of Hormuz. “You know what’s a war crime? Having a nuclear weapon,” he said.
Mhhh…
You know what’s a war crime? Having a nuclear weapon,
A Turn Around The Sun
This might be the last one today. This is a song I wrote after reading an amazing book ‘The Overstory’ by Richard Powers
Briefly, the book introduces you to several characters in successive chapters. For each character, trees are significant in their lives.
The characters come together in the second half of the book, but I won’t say anything about that, as it is a bit of a spoiler. Anyway, the book set me off writing this song called the speed of trees.
We want everything to suit our economic models of extraction of the earth’s resources at a speed that suits us.
The tree in question is a giant redwood. Unfortunately for trees, and ultimately for us, the speed of trees is so much slower than our speed, and that leads us into trouble.
In the end, we need trees more than they need us, or more precisely, it’s not the trees that need help, it’s us.
The Speed Of Trees
Verse 1
One hundred turns around the Sun
And life is just begun
Here is the youth
Who’ll tell the truth
Of all the sorrows
Verse 2
Five hundred turns around the Sun
And still they call him young
His body strong,
His limbs are long
Straight as an arrow
Verse 3
Two thousand turns around the Sun
And life is almost done
So many years
And ancient fears
Of no tomorrow
Bridge
We heard of your fame
And so we came
In answer to the call.
We gathered there
A silent prayer
In that sacred hall.
We stood and watched
Hearts in our mouths
And saw the giant tall
We stood with friends
There at the end
And saw the giant fall
Verse 4
How many turns around the Sun?
Before our course is run.
We lost the race
We ran too fast
No time to borrow
Bridge repeat
We stood and watched
Hearts in our mouths
And saw the giant tall
We stood with friends
There at the end
And saw the giant fall
Verse 4 repeat
How many turns around the Sun?
Before our course is run.
We lost the race
We ran too fast
No time to borrow
July 2025
Breaking Bread Around The Table
This is another song from the last year or so.
I had a riff on the guitar, and pretty much the tune for a whole song, but no words. It’s interesting because the song changes speed from slowish to fast within each verse, and then goes back to the slower speed for the beginning of each new verse.
Words wise, it came from something I read or heard somewhere that was to do with how our environment in part shapes who we are. I think the song is a plea for knowing who we are and being willing to engage with others, especially those with whom we have disagreements.
I realise that is a tall order. It’s hard enough resolving differences within a family setting, let alone a community or nation.
But in the end, we have to learn to break bread with people with whom we disagree if we are to get anywhere.
The title comes from the Linden (Lime) Tree being a symbol of peace.
The Linden Tree
We are who we are,
We are who we are,
We are who we are,
Because of where we come from.
Because of where we come from.
Will you come and eat with me around the table?
Where we are going,
Where we are going,
Where we are going,
Is something we can shape together.
Will you come and sit with me under the Linden tree ?
Who will come with me ?
Who will come ?
Who will come with me ?
Though we do not know the way.
Will you come and walk with me along the road?
I Am On A Roll
I haven’t posted for so long, but I just have a backlog of songs that need to be out there somewhere.
The band I am in did a gig back in February, and the same weekend I did a gig with my wife and tried out some of my newer songs.
This is one of the newer ones that seems to have gone down well.
It strikes me that these are just the lyrics. I will have to do some recordings, but I’m never happy enough with them to put them out there. (Yet)
At the songwriters circle that I go to. We were given a challenge.
This was to write a song with four lines in each verse, lines one, two and four were to be the same but with a different third line. (A bit like a country blues)
A
A
B
A
Pity the refugee without a home
Pity the refugee without a home
Her past is behind her for future unknown
Won’t you pity the refugee without a home
Pity a world without any respect
Pity a world without any respect
I’m sitting here, wondering, whatever next
Please pity a world without any respect
A life with no reason is no life at all.
Won’t you carry me down to rest in the soil?
(The word pity can be changed as required as lib to: Think of, Remember, etc).
September 2025.
Five Short Words 