Sit Down...

I am sitting (down) in said coffee shop again. THIRD time this week. Hoping the staff start to recognise me soon. A face one cannot forget really. 

Anyway, post the Runaground post ('post' twice. Hmmm...), I got some flack for my lack (rhymes!!) of knowledge on the band James. Apparently Sit Down was a global mega-hit. And yes, rightfully so. I had in fact heard that song before. It also just happens to be playing right now in said coffee shop. I'm guessing the iPod belongs to the hipster with the beanie on. You have fine, fine taste in music sir, dare I say it again, fine!

Sit Down - James 

http://youtu.be/Ew7Zkkucos8

"Those who feel ridiculous, sit down next to me"

Runaground...

It's a Tuesday morning, I've been back in London two weeks now, I still won't delve into that (see previous post). I'm sitting in a coffee shop just outside the Royal Courts of Justice in London (sidebar: that building is one of London's finest). Don't alarm yourselves, I'm not one of those people who sit in coffee shops quietly in the corner ordering the regular while surveying the crowd in a non-judgemental way (it's almost always judgemental...).

Well, they have music playing from a little iPod dock. Currently it's playing a song called Runaground by James. FYI: I had to Shazam it...then I Googled the lyrics, added it to my Spotify playlist and I now plan on listening to it all day until I know every word. Don't judge - you would do the same. 

I love it how so often I hear a song, read the lyrics, think to myself, "Yep, that was written for me" - how obnoxious, who do I think I am?! But seriously it's like James (whoever they are) know me. How do these musicians do it? I guess we are all pretty much the same and go through pretty much the same things as everyone else. Perhaps think of that when dealing with other people today...they have the same feelings as you. Be gentle. Be kind. Be understanding. Love. 

In the process of typing this the little iPod thingi spilled out these tunes...(I may make morning coffee in this joint a regular thing)...

Runaground - James
http://youtu.be/qaQI_-N2cbY

Here comes the sun - The Beatles
http://youtu.be/Y6GNEEi7x4c

(Although seriously there is no sun here, perhaps it's a metaphor...)

You ain't goin' nowhere - Bob Dylan
http://youtu.be/CIEQZLxTY3w

Isaac...

We are a week into TWENTYFOURTEEN. That means only 51 weeks left in this year before we start it all again.  I am currently sitting in my childhood home in Cape Town in my pajamas. It is midday - don't judge.  I have been here for just over three weeks now (not sitting in my pjs, obvs, just in CT) and will be heading home to my London abode in about six days - we will not delve into the emotions surrounding my going back at this time though, I can assure myself as well as you that it will come and I will be sitting in my London flat watching the rain fall outside questioning my choices, but alas that is all I'll say on that for the time being, I digress.

The start of this year was a great contrast to all 2013 was to me.  The tough, emotional roller-coaster of a year has ended (on a ridiculously high note) and now we have a full year less one week to make 2014 better than 2013.  I have started this year more in tune to the presence of God in my life than even I could have imagined a mere three weeks ago and as I sit here listening to Bears Den - Isaac, I am reminded of the story of the sacrifices we are sometimes (outrageously) asked to make in order to fulfill the purpose God has for our lives. The last 12 months have been a whirlwind of decisions, retracting those decisions, watching the reasons for those decisions change and ultimately ending up in a place where now I am telling myself, "Man, I hope this is what you are meant to be doing"...I am certain I am not alone here.  I am certain that each and every person in the world is telling themselves exactly the same thing.  However, we have one decision left to make and that is how we will face this year.  Our attitudes need not be unchanging.

As the meaning of the name Isaac says, 'He laughs/will laugh'.  May we laugh this year, may we laugh until we cry, may we laugh until red wine comes out of our noses, may we laugh until the entire room laughs with us, may we laugh quietly on our own, may we laugh through the difficulties, may we laugh with JOY!

Issac - Bears Den
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tv3SHHAti0I