As Tears Go By

I get emotionally involved in ‘The Repair Shop’. Last night it was Mike, a professional 1970s speedway rider who had recently died of cancer. Wife Wendy and daughter Hayley wanted to restore his racing boots… it was on his bucket list, they wanted to honour his request and memory. They missed him…

A tear came to my eye…

I remembered the 1964 song ‘As Tears Go By’. The Rolling Stones were singing raucous blues… One of their first original compositions was this gentle, simple song that they were embarrassed about…

It is the evening of the day
I sit and watch the children play
Smiling faces I can see
But not for me
I sit and watch as tears go by…

Brash, rebellious Mick Jagger and Keith Richard, 21 year olds, musing on the passing of time, on childhood that has gone and old age that will come…

I sit and watch…

Observing and reflecting on people, situations, life… When I was teaching I enjoyed doing lesson observations – watching good teachers teaching well and children enjoying their learning. I still enjoy watching children playing in the park or on the beach, parents doing parenting well…

As tears go by…

As I get older I find myself more emotionally involved… tears come more readily…

I’m moved by people, identifying with their situations, suffering, sorrows… I’m moved by music… particularly musical theatre. ‘You’ll never walk alone’ in ‘Carousel’, ‘Electricity’ in ‘Billy Elliott’… even ‘Climb Every Mountain’ in ‘The Sound of Music’.

I’m more emotionally involved in my faith. Certain songs… ‘Abide with me’, ‘My hope is built on nothing less’… well known Bible passages – Psalm 23, Isaiah 53…

Musing…

This isn’t a nostalgic old man tearfully looking back on the good old days. Rather I’m seeking to understand and be involved in life and faith, with authentic depth, compassion and empathy… following, inspired and empowered by Jesus… my hero, mentor, example…

I sit and watch as tears go by…