500 Miles

This old Proclaimers song is always sung with passion and intensity. It’s a song about love and loyalty, about purposeful action and intentional demonstration of that love and loyalty.

When I wake up, well I know I’m gonna be
I’m gonna be the one who wakes up next to you
When I go out, well, I know I’m gonna be
I’m gonna be the one who goes along with you
If I get drunk, well, I know I’m gonna be
I’m gonna be the one who gets drunk next to you
And If I haver, hey, I know I’m gonna be
I’m gonna be the man who’s havering to you

Yesterday was Daughter-Jo’s fiftieth birthday party. Family who have lived with her, friends who have known her for many years, met together and celebrated. Friend-Lisa put together a scrapbook of photos of Jo through the years…

This song talks about good times and bad times, waking up, coming home, growing old It’s the deep and lasting love and loyalty of friends and family.

When I’m working, yes, I know I’m gonna be
I’m gonna be the one who’s working hard for you
And when the money comes in for the work I do
I’ll pass almost every penny on to you
When I come home, well, I know I’m gonna be
I’m gonna be the one who comes back home to you
If I grow old, well, I know I’m gonna be
I’m gonna be the one who’s growing old with you.

Today is Remembrance Sunday. At 11.00 in church we shall stand silently for two minutes honouring those who have served and died in wars. We shall remember and reflect on those who have given their lives, paid the ultimate sacrifice, serving our country.

This song talks about the love and loyalty of service, of working with and for each other. Today we shall remember those who didn’t ‘come back home’ or ‘grow old’ .

When I’m lonely, well, I know I’m gonna be
I’m gonna be the man who’s lonely without you
And when I’m dreaming, well, I know I’m gonna dream
I’m gonna dream about the time I had with you
When I go out, well, I know I’m gonna be
I’m gonna be the one who’s thinking about you
And when I come home, yes, I know I’m gonna be
I’m gonna be the one who comes back home with you

This morning I read of Jesus washing his disciples feet – a sign of his love for and loyalty to his closest friends. He says, ‘A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.’

Later Jesus says: ‘Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.’ It’s the extreme love and loyalty – for the lonely and the dreamers – the 500 miles and 500 more – of family, friends, sacrifice, and Jesus. I pray it will be me too.

But I would walk 500 miles
And I would walk 500 more
Just to be the man who walks a thousand miles
To fall down at your door