Not A One Night Stand

On Sunday we saw ‘The Simon and Garfunkel Story’, enjoying greatest hits… lesser known songs…

‘Homeward Bound…’ It was thought that Paul Simon had written it during his time in England, waiting for a train at Widnes railway station; Simon said it was Warrington:

I’m sitting in the railway station
Got a ticket for my destination,
On a tour of one-night stands
My suitcase and guitar in hand
And every stop is neatly planned
For a poet and a one-man band…

He describes the life of a musician on the road, always on the move, a succession of ‘one-night stands’. He longs to be ‘Homeward Bound’ to the place of love and consistency.

Last night was ‘Comic Relief’. Comedians and celebrities hosted a ‘fund-raising extravaganza’ from Salford (not that far from Widnes or Warrington!)

We remembered writer Richard Curtis and comedian Sir Lenny Henry presenting the first ‘Comic Relief’ forty years ago. We heard about some of the projects it supports involving people in poverty, those at risk of domestic abuse, families affected by conflict and climate change…

We were encouraged to donate single gifts; we saw the money raised exceed £34million; we were encouraged to donate regularly; we were told repeatedly, ‘Giving is not a one-night stand’.

It set me musing… Loving is not a one-night stand… Serving is not a one-night stand… On a one-night stand you can put on an act. ‘Not a one-night stand’ goes deeper; it’s about commitment, consistency, integrity. I continued through other virtues… humility, kindness, reliability…

The one that hit me hardest…? I remembered my friend Bruce who died recently. As his mind became increasingly diminished he hung on to his Lord’s Prayer… ‘Our Father… Forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us…’

Forgiveness is not a one-night stand… those who have wronged me, those who have left scars that constantly remind me… And hardest of all…? Forgiving myself is not a one-night stand.