Long Distance Voyager

[Thanks to Billie Brightwell, I have a typewritten (!) script from a Moody Blues “Celebration Rock” program, aired in October 1982. It’s labeled #700. Since it’s been quite awhile since I wrote an entry for this blog, I’ll simply scan Billie’s transcript of my original script, and let this be an addition to the official CR record.

After the standard program opening, I pretty much played through the album, cut-by-cut, and made the following comments:

THE VOICE

“Won’t you take me back to school? I’ve got to learn the golden rule. Won’t you lay it on the line? I’ve got to hear it one more time.”

The “golden rule”. You don’t hear much about that these days. The so-called “me generation” was taught to “watch out for number one,” that is, look out for, protect, serve, save yourself. The golden rule somehow got buried under a lot of garbage.

Yet, while unpopular, the rule survives…, not so much as a rule maybe – and I hope it’s survived as more than just a cliché. For those who follow the Christ, the words are an ideal to be sought, a standard by which we measure our ability to live the faith.

The most familiar statement of the golden rule is, “Do unto others as you would have others do unto you”. In the King James Version of the Bible, it reads, “As ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise”. The Today’s English Version says, “Do for others just what you want them to do for you”. (Luke 6:31)

What makes that rule so unique is its presence in just about every major religion:
Buddhist, Muslim, Sufi, Zoroastrian. In the Jewish Hillel, it’s recorded, “Do not do unto others that which you would not have them do unto you”.

And, it’s got some Chinese roots, too, in the teachings of Confucius who said, “May we take the word of reciprocity to serve as our rule of life: what we do not wish others to do to us, may we not do unto them”.

I have to believe the Spirit of God has planted the seed of that message in every culture for a reason: that we should live by its guidance and judge our lives by how successfully we have followed it. It’s the key to making peace with one another, and finding peace among nations.

TALKING OUT OF TURN

The relationship in this song – the love – breaks down because of some “talking out of turn”. It may be the old story of “kissing and telling”, but it probably runs deeper than that, reflecting the way we often break confidences or betray someone’s trust. It hurts to know that a few simple words can destroy something as beautiful as a relationship conceived in – and nurtured by – love.

Our words seem harmless enough – as if what we say “out of turn” will be immediately forgotten. How surprised we are when what we’ve said comes back to haunt us… and worse… to haunt the person our words have betrayed.

There’s a proverb in the Bible which the Today’s English Version translates this way:
“Kind words bring life; but cruel words crush your spirit.” (Prov. 15:4)

And the Moodies sing of that kind of exploitation:
“I took a little more of you each day when I didn’t see that I was breaking you apart.”
Talking out of turn – it’s a habit that breaks people and crushes our own spirit. So, beware of thoughtless words and careless comments. Kind words are one way to hold on to love.

GEMINI DREAM

I hear in this song a plea to make it work out – either rocking and rolling right through the night, or making love, or both, because Justin Hayward and John Lodge write, “Tonight’s the night”.

The lines I’ve centered on – almost obscured by the music – offer a three-step progression that applies to all of life, whether it’s a system of ethics, faith, vocation, whatever. The lines are:

“Living it. Believing it. Wanting It.” In that order. Living, believing, wanting. Apply that progression to whatever “it” may stand for.

I live it. That is, I experience it. Therefore, I believe it; so I want it to be that way. Apply it to society and you understand how hard it is to change attitudes.

For a racist, for example.

I live prejudice: I’ve been brought up in a segregated society, therefore, I believe that’s the way life should be. And I want it to continue to be that way.

But, to change an attitude or idea, it may be necessary to reverse the order to “I want, I believe, I live.

I want to see racial harmony and justice and reconciliation. When I want it badly enough, I’ll believe in it, and when I believe hard enough, I’ll begin to live it. My attitude will change – and so will I.

Again, the formula for change is want, believe, live.

Just a thought from The Moody Blues album “Long Distance Voyager”.

IN MY WORLD

“In My World” is a witness to how a relationship with another person can be a life-changing catalyst.

“I’m only just beginning to believe what you’ve done. How you turned it upside down, this world of mine.”

And there’s that touch of hyperbole: “It’s heaven on earth when you’re near.”

That’s one reason we human beings were meant to be “in community,”  if not in love. Our relationships to others, supported and renewed by mutual caring, loving, healing… joyfully sharing bits and pieces of our lives — all that enriches us.

It may be the result of falling in love with one very special person, but it’s not limited to that. There are other levels of relationship just as important. Singles and couples, families and churches – we all need one another to make us – and keep us— together and whole.
We move from one Justin Hayward song to another. This next one’s called “Meanwhile”.

MEANWHILE
Another song of lost love – with a key line that reminds us that we are not really totally in control of our lives, much as we hate to face that. The Moodies sing, “I thought I’d end up as the hero; thought the glory would be mine. Very soon I was to find it wasn’t to be.”

Newspapers, magazines, and TV sometimes carry ads for books, cassettes, tracts, offers of plans and programs designed to help us take control of our lives in three or sixteen or nine easy lessons.

“Learn to make your own decisions!”
“Plot your own course!”
“Design your own destiny”
“Be your own boss!”

From the power of positive thinking to astrology, we try to assume control of life’s course, but – isn’t there always a place for surprise? Or disappointment?

Won’t there always be the challenge of the unexpected and the thrill of overcoming a set-back? To be human is to be a hero – sometimes… but it’s also to learn to struggle, to admit weakness, to confess sins, and even to fail!

Now that doesn’t mean we’re nothing but dust in the wind, being blown about in every direction by every little breeze, but it does mean that God’s plan encompasses far more than ours. And life is never really knowing what’s coming next.

One thing is for sure: We can learn to live with that!

22,000 DAYS

Let’s see.. .divide 22,000 days by 365 and you wind up with about 60 years and not quite four months. According to the Moody Blues’ Graham Edge, that’s all the time you’ve got. I’m not sure that’s the total from birth, or starting from where we are now, but it doesn’t matter. The point is, he’s praying, “Let me go into tomorrow one day at a time”.

This song calls time both a “foe” and “wealth”. In one line, the Moodies sing, “Time’s the only wealth you’ve got”.

And in the next verse, “Now I know the only foe is time”. Well, which is it?

Time past could be wealth – like looking back on the wealth of experiences from which we’ve learned. And if we consider future’s time is running out and trying to accomplish life’s goals is like playing beat the clock, then maybe time to come is the enemy.

Then again, before you buy fully into that interpretation consider the alternative:
all those days we have left are not enemies, but precious gifts – new opportunities for redemption, healing, reconciliation, new birth. Then time past becomes a foe we’ve conquered and left behind!

Now that I like!

NERVOUS

Written by John Lodge, here’s another song about “the road” (frequent Celebration Rock listeners have a big collection of “road” songs gathered from previous programs.)

What I hear is the cry of one who’s worried or “nervous” that he’s been on the road too long — and he doesn’t know what it is that keeps him on the road. “Has there been a sign that points another way and I’ve passed it by?”

On a less cosmic level, I know what that’s like. I’m traveling on the interstate and I suddenly get the feeling I’ve passed my exit. I keep driving on, looking for the right exit sign, growing more nervous with each mile.

Well, John Lodge – who, like the rest of us is not getting any younger – may feel that way about where his life is going. How young can a rock musician remain? I know some 29 year old D.J.’s who feel the same way. How long do I stay on this road?

I’m getting nervous, too. I’m younger than Dick Clark and Casey Kasem, but in my mid—thirties, how long can I stay in touch with contemporary music trends?

Well, whether you’re a veteran “cosmic rocker” like each of the Moody Blues, or a D.J. at “WOLD”, or just somebody on the road who’s forgotten why, catch one more line thrown us by John Lodge:

“Bring it on home, your love.”

The tie is between home and love. It’s essential to remember that the love we’re offered by God through the people around us, gives us the security and comfort of home, no matter where we are. (And, if I’m loved, my age is irrelevant.)

Along life’s road, I keep my eyes open for signs of love pointing the way home -which is, after all, everyone’s ultimate destination.

PAINTED SMILE

Ray Thomas has given us a perceptive song which helps us understand class clowns, intentional village idiots, and other assorted fools. The lyrics give us insight into those who win our love with humor. From classic clowns like Red Skelton to the girl in your class who’s always acting out for a laugh and personal acceptance. The song reminded me of a play I was in about 10 years ago called “For Mature Adults Only”. Written by Norman Habel and published by Fortress Press, the play contained the stories of several teenagers who needed the understanding of mature adults. Here is Stevie’s story, and her prayer.

[Here I inserted the voice of a friend, Elena Delgado, who read Stevie’s story from the Habel book.]

VETERAN COSMIC ROCKER

He’s afraid that he will die. For a performer, to “die” means to fail – to fail to excite, to bring laughter, tears, or applause. To die on stage is a constant fear that even veteran performers are afflicted with. That’s why even the pros still get nervous. There’s always the chance the audience won’t like your song, won’t laugh at your joke, won’t respond to your impassioned reading of the playwright’s words.

The veteran cosmic rocker fears that kind of death, but he also fears the other deaths that haunt every person, star or commoner. Physical death – complete and utter non-existence. Spiritual death – separation from the one whose ultimate gift was life: God.

The good news is that God has sent us a message through Jesus the Christ. Death has been overcome. New life always awaits us.

We face little deaths every day. Those little deaths are called goodbyes, transfers, graduations, leave-taking, separation or divorce: Little deaths that  hurt for awhile  (admittedly sometimes a long while)  until a breath of new life fills empty spaces and we live again

The veteran cosmic rocker, in spite of a spiked coke and sweet smoke, nonetheless was afraid he would die. He seemed to have missed the natural alternative: trust in the Lord of Life.

[And that’s the last printed word from the script. No doubt as the program came to an end and the music of the Moodies faded, I added my benediction: “Be gentle with people, and with yourself.” Until next time…