Songs for change

 So yesterday I was mulling over in my mind where we are headed as a society, and assessing how well our household has prepared for coming storms, according to the limited resources that are ours.

One thing that stands out for me is that, in the coming days, our deepest and most urgent need will be for one another, and the greatest contribution any one person will be able to bring is a trusting, peaceful and calm spirit — chilled out, cheerful and unafraid.

These considerations brought me back to the glorious Playing for Change Song Around the World videos, that exemplify this spirit of co-operation. Here are my favourites.

 

 

For me these songs make present to the imagination the power of ordinary people around the world to create a reality of harmony and hope, beauty unbowed and undaunted. Whatever happens to us, and however little we have, this can still be our North Star.

The two books I've written in the last year (but have been thinking about for ages), St Luke's Little Summer and The Light of One Lamp, are my own way of making present to the imagination this sense of strength through connection, the kindness by which we lift one another up, how we protect and nourish the dignity of the human spirit, and remain faithful in asserting that we are loved by God.