Strictly speaking this wasn’t part of my series posting music, but it occurred during that same time and I did post a video – although it was only an audio version.
During lockdown Govan Corps had a series of posts from invited people published on their facebook page. I was honoured to be counted amongst those invited and this is what I sent :
Thought for the Day
Contributed by George R McConnell
Whenever it was my turn to do the devotions in our band practice my biggest problem was always deciding what the ‘subject’ should be – and it was no different when asked if I would contribute a “thought for the day”. What can I say that is relevant, apt, right for the “audience” and isn’t simply saying something that has been said many times before?
Now – in the last couple of years this dilemma has been eased a little as our band sergeant produces a list of suggested topics – one per month – and a suggested verse to base things around. So when it is your turn you at least have a starting point. Having looked at what this week’s topic was I couldn’t help but highlight the irony in the chosen verse.
Precisely what we don’t want to happen at the moment with lockdowns and the “rule of 6” and social distancing and a ban on travelling to certain countries.
The overall theme for the month is “Change” and we all have seen so many changes during this year – some for the better, some for the worse. Of course, change happens all the time – but few of us are comfortable with embracing it – especially when it is forced upon us rather than something that we choose to do for ourselves. However, if we were to sit and look back over our lives even those much younger than me will be able to see that there have been plenty of changes most of which we now don’t even notice as any different.
We have all been inconvenienced (I chose that word carefully) by the pandemic that is afflicting the world – and I know that for some it has been considerably more than just a minor inconvenience – it has been life changing or life ending for so many! (and it can be so hard for those not directly affected to grasp just how devastating that is) Change has been imposed on us all – and yes, some of those changes feel “unfair” – and for many, everything that has happened this year has been really hard to endure.
Then I think – how different this would have been if it had happened a number of years ago. There would have been positives and negatives – in a time before the world wide web there would have been no zoom meetings possible; in a time before so many aircraft filled the skies
the spread of the virus may have been more contained; and I am sure you can all add many more to both sides of that ledger. No one knows precisely how each of these has changed things, but I am reasonably sure that – on the whole – it is a lot easier to cope with and fight a pandemic in 2020 than it was 100 yrs ago.
Some changes bring short term problems in exchange for long term benefits – and it is to be hoped that many of the current restrictions and difficulties fall into that bucket. Unfortunately, one of the problems of the “instant” society we now live in is that we have perhaps become far too used to things happening straight away. It seems to have robbed many of the virtue of patience and the ability to look further ahead than a very short time horizon and wider than the effects on “number one”. It is really hard to see things from someone else’s perspective, that is clear, but it is something that most of us need to try and do far more frequently.
Change – there is so much more that could be said – but I want to turn it around in closing. There are some things that are much more constant – you could all, I am sure, quote many verses of Salvation Army songs that talk about the things that endure, or are “changeless”. In the face of rapid changes in society we look for things that we can rely on. Just one…
All things are passing; God never changeth;
Patient endurance attaineth to all things;
Who God possesseth in nothing is wanting;
God alone sufficeth.’
That “patient endurance” is most definitely a trait that we would all do well to exhibit more of – at all times – but particularly in these times.
I have included some music – it is a piece that I played many years ago with Govan Band and I also sang the song that concludes the piece with the songsters – one of my dad’s favourites. It has no particular connection with the specific subject of this thought, but it came into my head as I was writing this – so I guess I was meant to share it. If nothing else it will give you a few minutes to sit, listen and reflect on the music and perhaps charge up your patience battery.
Wilfred Heaton : My Treasure
Comments :
David Phillips
George Brilliant..as the one who devised the themes for our devotions I am encouraged. Your words are so relevant and timely. What an amazing piece of music My Treasure. Thank you George.Keep well.
Chic Ramsay
Thanks George, lovely thoughts and amazing music
DavidGrace Arnott
Thank you for your thoughts
Anthony Bell
What beautiful thoughts
Georgina McDonald
Thank you George for these helpful words. My Treasure was one of Jim’s favourite pieces too. I think the basses had a good part which he and your Dad enjoyed playing together. The words of the Songster piece are such a lovely testimony. X
George McConnell
Georgina – I am sure that there were many pieces that my Dad enjoyed playing with Jim 😃