The Bright Side of Life

In his autobiography Eric Idle refers to his famous song:

‘Always look on the bright side of life’ has probably been my subconscious motto throughout my life, but I never thought it would be a hit… On January 20, 2009 it officially became the number one most requested song at British funerals, Replacing Frank Sinatra’s ‘My Way’…’

…Musing on friends going through tough stuff – some living with pain and life-limiting illness, some with impossible family situations. Telling them to ‘look on the bright side’ lacks both compassion and sensitivity. Perhaps they’re looking on the dark side.

Yesterday I went for my autumn injections. I signed in for my 9.17 appointment. Within five minutes I went to ‘Room 8’ where Rebecca, a smiling, confident nurse was waiting for me. Two minutes later I’d had my flu injection in one arm, my covid injection in the other arm and was thanking Rebecca as I left.

Being  inoculated against flu and covid is easily done. Sadly the lovely Rebecca isn’t able to inoculate against the dark side – the tough stuff that my friends are going through.

Yesterday, a gent called Matt wrote about his wife Laura. As she was getting their children ready for school it started pour with rain. Laura noticed a lady across the street take off her cardigan and drape it over her child in a pushchair, leaving her in just a t-shirt.

Laura dashed into their house, grabbed her waterproof coat and took it to the lady standing in the rain. Despite the lady’s protests Laura gave her the coat, saying ‘I’ve got two, and I don’t really need two coats!’

Later Laura saw the same lady again, walking up the street, pushing the pushchair, still wearing her coat…

This morning I’m musing on Eric’s bright side of life… Rebecca’s inability to cure the dark side of life by a miracle cure… and Laura’s Jesus-inspired radical generosity – seeing and taking the opportunity to make one lady’s dark day a little brighter.