February 2012
Dear Friends
Today the lyrics of an old song came into my head, ‘another day older and deeper in debt’. I looked up this song on the web and discovered it was written by an American Country singer called Merle Travis in 1946. It has since had many cover versions by a whole variety of singers.
The song is about the life of a coal miner and the chorus refers to the heavy load the miner had to bear, i.e. 16 tons – the title of the song! The chorus goes:
You load 16 tons and what do you get?
Another day older and deeper in debt.
St. Peter don’t you call me, cause I can’t go,
I owe my soul to the company store.
I wondered why those lyrics had come to mind!
Was it something to do with the financial imbalance in the world!
Perhaps it was that governments often ignore the plight of poorer countries struggling to pay off debts from way back, having repaid the debt many times over?
Perhaps it was the news coverage that Greece, Italy, Spain, Portugal and others are in debt crises and the viability of the Euro is threatened?
Perhaps it was to do with Britain’s challenge to ‘balance the books’ having spent above its means?
Perhaps it was also to do with the church and the financial challenges and decisions it is facing in the near future, not least following The General Secretary’s Report to Conference 2011 and the Fresh Fields Project and proposals currently under review.
In all decisions made by those with power in whatever circumstances there are bound to be consequences in terms of human life – for better or for worse. Let us remember we follow Jesus who came that we might have life and that we might live life to the full, whatever our circumstances and whoever we are!
May you be filled with the power of God’s love and grace,
Jan