In Les Misérables the revolution has failed. The young men are all dead; the women of Paris mourn their loss:
Who will wake them?
No one ever will.
No one ever told them
That a summer day can kill.
Nothing changes, nothing ever will
Every year another brat, another mouth to fill.
Same old story, what’s the use of tears?
What’s the use of praying if there’s nobody who hears?
There’s no change, no help, no hope.
Yesterday was May 1st, May Day… ‘Mayday, mayday, mayday’ is the international call requesting urgent and immediate help…
…In 1927 Frederick Stanley Mockford, a London radio officer, was asked to find an appropriate code word to be used as a distress call. Because so much air traffic flew between Croydon and Le Bourget Airport, Paris, he thought of French words… ‘venez m’aider’, (come to help me), abbreviated to “m’aider” (“help me”)… hence mayday.
Yesterday…
…There was an explosion in a Southwold Fish and Chip Shop 13 miles away. 50 firefighters helped in putting out the fire; rebuilding the business will require help… Ed Sheeran, who lives nearby, visits that chip shop…
…Ed Sheeran’s young wife, Cherry, was diagnosed with cancer in 2022. I read about the help she required and received…
…Conversations… one gent needs significant help from builders in repairing his home… another needs help caring for his wife who’s recently returned home from hospital…
The Beatles sung:
Help me if you can, I’m feeling down
And I do appreciate you being ’round
Help me get my feet back on the ground
Won’t you please, please help me?
Musing… 3 stages…
1. Review: I acknowledge that I need help. I may think I’m strong and independent; I may need to swallow my pride, change my plans, admit that my need is greater than my capability…
2. Realisation: There’s help available! Good people are willing, able, capable; from my faith perspective there’s a good God who constantly helps.
3. Request: I ask for help…
malcolmsmusings.org 