When the Night

"When the night comes, the land is dark and the moon is the only light... we won't be afraid... stand by me."

Stand By Me

Performed by Ben E King

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These words, or words like them could come from various religious texts. Indeed, this is a central theme in human existence. We aren't always sure, not always ready to respond in any compehensive manner when confronted with the unknown, the dark, the fearsome. And like the song, spirtual texts abound, encouraging that we not be afraid...stand by me.

And often we do just that. The moon is the only light we see before the dawn.

I Just Have Met You Yet

I Just Haven't Met You Yet

by Michael Buble

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I'm not surprised

Not everything lasts
I've broken my heart so many times

I stopped keeping track

Talk myself in
I talk myself out
I get all worked up, then I let myself down

I tried so very hard not to lose it
I came up with a million excuses
I thought I thought of every possibility

And I know someday that it'll all turn out...
I just haven't met you yet
Mmm...

I might have to wait
I'll never give up
I guess it's half timing, And the other half's luck...

And I know that we can be so amazing
And baby your love is gonna change me
And now I can see every possibility
Mmm...

But somehow I know that it'll all turn out...
And I promise you, kid, I'll give so much more than I get
I just haven't met you yet

They say all's fair
In love and war
But I won't need to fight it
We'll get it right and,
We'll be united
And I know that we can be so amazing...

And now I can see every single possibility,
mmm...
And someday I know it'll all turn out
And I'll work to work it out
Promise you, kid, I'll give more than I get,

Than I get, than I get, than I get...

Ohh, promise you, kid, to give so much than I get
(I said love, love, love, love...)
I just haven't met you yet
I just haven't met you yet.

While trolling the internet looking at others' thoughts about these lyrics, I saw some who see this song differently. While most described it as fun, upbeat or hopeful, there were those others. They express doubt, frustration or general negativity. Where do these different, divergent views of this song come from? Apparently a person's experiences in the world can and do color their perceptions Often what we're thinking, someone else is too, but not always. Sometimes our feelings color the landscape and we view the world through "rose colored glasses." When we do this, do we ask others about their views, their experience, or do we assume that it is like our own? How do we know when ours is simply different? Is difference frightening or scary? Are we not all finally living under the one, great sun?

Over the weekend I went traveling to an amazing place, along the shores of beautiful lake Michigan. It brought back memories for me, but mostly me alone. I quickly learned that my companions had little or no prior experience with the power and raw beauty of this vast body of water. And that was okay by me; I could share a bit of my own experience with others: they perhaps viewed it for the first time; meanwhile, I viewed the scene fondly, in part from memory. It was the blending of the new, in the moment experience, and the recollection of the old, what we call reminisce.

The ties of old do bind themselves to the new. I found that it's all still there; it has always been there, the lake, the energy, the calm, the peace, the excitement and the desire; I am left with a newer, stronger version of what I already knew from before. It's all so loveable.

I Will Follow You; My Fears Drift Away

Follow You, Follow Me
by Collins, Banks, Rutherford, Genesis

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Stay with me,

My love I hope you'll always be

Right here by my side if ever I need you

Oh my love

In your arms,

I feel so safe and so secure

Everyday is such a perfect day to spend

Alone with you

I will follow you will you follow me

All the days and nights that we know will be

I will stay with you will you stay with me

Just one single tear in each passing year

With the dawn,

Oh I see so very clearly now

All my fears are drifting by me so slowly now

Fading away

I can say

The night is long but you are here

Close at hand, oh I'm better for the smile you give

And while I live

I will follow you will you follow me

All the days and nights that we know will be

I will stay with you will you stay with me

Just one single tear in each passing year there will be...

The world of today is much like the ancient world in terms of believers and non-believers. There are so many who doubt others, who doubt themselves. As in the time of the Christ, many challenge with the historical facts, the seen, but do not know the ultimate dimension, the unseen. Believe and you will be free. Oh, love, follow me! I see so very clearly now; close, right at hand. Follow me; I'll follow you. Walk in love; walk in the light. The bible tells us this story about following the one we love, who loves us:

" But when they continued asking him [the Christ], he straightened up and said to them, "Let the one among you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her." Again he bent down and wrote on the ground.
And in response, they went away one by one, beginning with the elders. So he was left alone with the woman before him.
 Then Jesus straightened up and said to her, "Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?"She replied, "No one, sir." Then Jesus said, "Neither do I condemn you. Go, (and) from now on do not sin any more."
 Jesus spoke to them again, saying, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life."
 So the Pharisees said to him, "You testify on your own behalf, so your testimony cannot be verified."
 Jesus answered and said to them, "Even if I do testify on my own behalf, my testimony can be verified, because I know where I came from and where I am going. But you do not know where I come from or where I am going.
You judge by appearances, but I do not judge anyone.
And even if I should judge, my judgment is valid, because I am not alone, but it is I and the Father who sent me. Even in your law it is written that the testimony of two men can be verified. 
I testify on my behalf and so does the Father who sent me." So they said to him, "Where is your father?" Jesus answered, "You know neither me nor my Father. If you knew me, you would know my Father also."
He spoke these words while teaching in the treasury in the temple area. But no one arrested him, because his hour had not yet come.
 He said to them again, "I am going away and you will look for me, but you will die in your sin. Where I am going you cannot come." So the Jews said, "He is not going to kill himself, is he, because he said, 'Where I am going you cannot come'?"
 He said to them, "You belong to what is below, I belong to what is above. You belong to this world, but I do not belong to this world. That is why I told you that you will die in your sins. For if you do not believe that I AM,  you will die in your sins."
So they said to him, "Who are you?" Jesus said to them, "What I told you from the beginning.
 I have much to say about you in condemnation. But the one who sent me is true, and what I heard from him I tell the world..."
Jesus then said to those Jews who believed in him, "If you remain in my word, you will truly be my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free."  --The Bible, the book of Saint John 8:4-23