OK. This is one of those depressing posts that you really shouldn't put online at 12.40 am after a long hard day, but I've just had a day where my spiritual credentials were questioned because I had dared to ask questions about a recent evangelistic event, later had a long conversation with a member of my church which left me feeling disheartened about the whole "church" thing as we currently do it... without really knowing what to do about it... and am dreading a series of conversations I have to have in the next week or too about another episode involving the church at it's best (not!)
And echoing around my head was this song by Sting. And it seems so apt...
I am a scientist by training, who is uneasy about the lack of a moral centre to much modern scientific endeavour and deeply pessimistic about the ability of science to deal with the impending disaster this world is facing.
I am someone involved in ongoing contact with politicians and civil servants, who is becoming more and more frustrated about the cynical nature of the whole system, and its ability to grind down those people within it who have high ideals and noble aspirations.
And perhaps most worryingly, I am an ordained minister in the church, who is increasingly depressed by so much of what takes place under the name of church.
The member of my congregation said that the range of things that they could be absolutely certain of was relatively small, and I must say I tend to agree... So to God I say...
If I ever lose my faith in you
There'd be nothing left for me to do...
You could say I lost my faith in science and progress
You could say I lost my belief in the holy church
You could say I lost my sense of direction
You could say all of this and worse, but
If I ever lose my faith in you
There'd be nothing left for me to do.
Some would say I was a lost man in a lost world
You could say I lost my faith in the people on T.V.
You could say I'd lost my belief in our politicians
They all seemed like game show hosts to me
If I ever lose my faith in you
There'd be nothing left for me to do
I could be lost inside their lies
without a trace
But every time I close my eyes,
I see your face.
I never saw no miracle of science
That didn't go from a blessing to a curse
I never saw no military solution
That didn't always end up as something worse,
But let me say this first
If I ever lose my faith in you
If I ever lose my faith in you
There'd be nothing left for me to do
There'd be nothing left for me to do
If I ever lose my faith
If I ever lose my faith
If I ever lose my faith
If I ever lose my faith in you...
Sting: Ten Summoners Tales (1993)
Comments
speaking honestly, and maybe a little sappily, you are one of those people who helps me make sense of it all.
keep the faith - or at least those parts that save us.
But if you think that quoting Sting is bad, I believe I once heard God speaking to me through a Eddi Reader song!!!
Anyway, you quoted Billy Joel on radio, so don't give me a hard time!!!