Bertolt Brecht: 'To Posterity' #2

... Here's the poem:

1.

Indeed I live in the dark ages!

A guileless word is an absurdity.

A smooth forehead betokens

A hard heart.

He who laughs

Has not yet heard

The terrible tidings.

g

Ah, what an age it is

When to speak of trees is almost a crime

For it is a kind of silence about injustice!

And he who walks calmly across the street,

Is he not out of reach of his friends

In trouble?

g

It is true: I earn my living

But, believe me, it is only an accident.

Nothing that I do entitles me to eat my fill.

By chance I was spared. (If my luck leaves me

I am lost.)

g

They tell me: eat and drink.

Be glad you have it!

But how can I eat and drink

When my food is snatched from the hungry

And my glass of water belongs to the thirsty?

And yet I eat and drink.

g

I would gladly be wise.

The old books tell us what wisdom is:

Avoid the strife of the world

Live out your little time

Fearing no one

Using no violence

Returning good for evil --

Not fulfillment of desire but forgetfulness

Passes for wisdom.

I can do none of this:

Indeed I live in the dark ages!

g

2.

g

I came to the cities in a time of disorder

When hunger ruled.

I came among men in a time of uprising

And I revolted with them.

So the time passed away

Which on earth was given me.

g

I ate my food between massacres.

The shadow of murder lay upon my sleep.

And when I loved, I loved with indifference.

I looked upon nature with impatience.

So the time passed away

Which on earth was given me.

g

In my time streets led to the quicksand.

Speech betrayed me to the slaughterer.

There was little I could do. But without me

The rulers would have been more secure. This was my hope.

So the time passed away

Which on earth was given me.

g

3.

g

You, who shall emerge from the flood

In which we are sinking,

Think --

When you speak of our weaknesses,

Also of the dark time

That brought them forth.

g

For we went, changing our country more often than our shoes.

In the class war, despairing

When there was only injustice and no resistance.

g

For we knew only too well:

Even the hatred of squalor

Makes the brow grow stern.

Even anger against injustice

Makes the voice grow harsh. Alas, we

Who wished to lay the foundations of kindness

Could not ourselves be kind.

g

But you, when at last it comes to pass

That man can help his fellow man,

Do not judge us

Too harshly.

I want to write about this
but I don’t know what to say.
The problem’s not gone anywhere.
This could be said today.
I admire this man’s commitment,
and I feel the same myself.
But I’ve learnt it gets me nowhere.
I just feel overwhelmed,
then go and waste more money
to make myself feel better.
So what then can I do
That will really be effective?
I need some transformation
That will make me care for others
More than I do for myself
Any offers?

Bertolt Brecht: 'To Posterity' #1

Those of you who studied theatre at A-level will have heard of Bertolt Brecht. For those of you denied that pleasure, allow me to introduce you: Bert, Reader; Reader, Bert.

The guy lived and worked in Germany between the world wars, and as he saw how the aristocracy and big business oppressed ordinary people, he gradually became convinced of socialism. He was a writer/director, and tried to find a way to create theatre that would make its audience think about social problems – and change their lives – instead of just being swept along by emotion and then forget all about it. For that I’ve always counted him a sort of hero, and have tried to use his ideas a lot myself.

Among A-level drama students, he doesn’t have the best reputation. This may be because the average drama student thinks very little about social problems, but may be even more because sometimes Brecht’s plays seem a little.. well.. boring.
hhh

I have discovered myself that writing analysis into drama is pretty difficult to do while keeping it entertaining. Aaron Sorkin etc actually do it very well in The West Wing, by having passionate, MENSA brained characters hammer each other over political hot potatoes with the best they’ve got. Brecht would have liked that. He’d have called it, ‘dialectics’. Maybe that’s why people don’t like him.

I reckon The West Wing manages to make analysis entertaining because a) it’s funny and b) you’re emotionally involved. Now Brecht is full of comedy – dry, black, twisted, sarcastic, and slapstick comedy, like Woody Allen on a rainy day – but he is not known for his emotional side. I want to redress that.

The other thing Brecht is less well known for is his poetry. Yes, socialists write poems. Of course they don’t spend much time discussing ‘hosts of golden daffodils’. And the best ones don’t rhyme, scan or have even stanzas. But they’re great anyway. And plenty emotional. One of my favourites is To Posterity. Allow me to share it with you...

Trying to write a praise song 2

‘Moses went up on the mountain (The LORD)’

Moses went up on the mountain to meet with God.
God said, ‘I love you. Come closer. Tell me what you want.’
Moses said, ‘Show me your glory, Lord.’
God stood there with him, passed by him, and thundered his name.
And this is God’s name:

The LORD.
The gracious and compassionate God.
Slow to anger, abounding in steadfast love.
Forgiving sin and seeing justice done.

The people were grumbling, and God went to strike them down.
‘How long will they spite me when I give them all they have?’
Moses said, ‘Think of your glory, Lord;
‘The nations have seen you release them, now show them your grace.’
‘Just like you said:’

The LORD.
The gracious and compassionate God.
Slow to anger, abounding in steadfast love.
Forgiving sin and seeing justice done.

Because of your great love
Forgive the sin of your people Lord.
Because of your great love
Forgive the sin of your people.

David was ‘wanted’. An army came for his life.
He hid in the mountains with nothing but God on his side.
David said, ‘Show me your mercy, Lord.
‘Bring joy to your servant, come save me and give your strength;
‘For you are the LORD.

The LORD.
The gracious and compassionate God.
Slow to anger, abounding in steadfast love.
Forgiving sin and seeing justice done.

God said to Jonah, ‘Go preach to the superpower’.
Jonah just ran, til a storm and a fish turned him round.
The people said, ‘Show us your mercy, Lord.’
Jonah went crazy: ‘I knew you’d forgive them again,
‘Because that’s who you are:’

The LORD.
The gracious and compassionate God.
Slow to anger, abounding in steadfast love.
Forgiving sin and seeing justice done.

Because of your great love
Forgive the sin of your people Lord.
Because of your great love
Forgive the sin of your people.

You adopted a people and saved us from slavery.
You taught us to love you and gave us all that we need.
And then you showed us your glory, Lord:
Although we kept sinning you punished your own son instead.
There’s no one like him.

The LORD.
The gracious and compassionate God.
Slow to anger, abounding in steadfast love.
Forgiving sin and seeing justice done.

Because of your great love
We’re free; we’re free to enjoy you Lord.
Because of your great love
We’re free; we’re free to enjoy you.

Trying to write a praise song

A confession. In spite of all my 'too cool for school' attitude, I've actually wanted for a long time to write a praise song. That other people will sing. As a songwriter, you probably can't top that for good feedback.

However, although it is very easy to write a bad praise song (I know from personal experience), it is hard to write a decent one. And judging from most of what we wade through in church meetings, to write a really good one is very hard indeed.

This morning I managed to put words together for a song I’ve had hanging around for a number of months. I’ve got another I did recently as well. They’re probably the best bashes I’ve had at the praise song form. So that’s quite exciting.

I’d love to know what you think of them. Chiefly, would they help you praise Jesus? Is there any phrasing, ideas, approach that would get in the way of that? Obviously I’d hope there’s something beneficial in there, but I would like to get better so do point out any problems you can see!

Unfortunately I can’t give you an idea of the tune and accompaniment on here. Just imagine that it’s really good. Maybe I’ll play them to you sometime.

‘Cast your cares onto Jesus’
Cast your cares onto Jesus; he cares for you. (x2)
I’ll cast my cares on you Jesus; you care for me.

Don’t worry what you’ll eat or drink.
Don’t worry what you’ll wear or look like.
Don’t worry about tomorrow now;
Jesus Christ knows what you need.

If you thirst, come to Jesus and have a drink. (x2)
You’ll overflow living water from within.

Don’t worry about your pension plan.
Don’t worry how your life will turn out.
Don’t worry about tomorrow now;
Jesus Christ knows what you need.

If the birds don’t save, yet they never miss a meal;
If the flowers don’t need make up to appeal;
Then giving Jesus all your life, he’ll give it back a hundred times.
Just try.

If you’re weary come to Jesus, he’ll give you rest. (x2)
His work is easy ‘cause he carries all the cares.

Don’t worry you can’t do this job.
Don’t worry that no one will like you.
Don’t worry you’re not good enough;
Jesus Christ is all you need.

If the birds are unwaged, yet they never miss a meal;
If the flowers don’t need fashion to appeal;
If God would send his son to die;
Then what on earth would he deny to us?

Cast your cares onto Jesus; he cares for you. (x2)

The Ideas of the Dawn Treader #3

SPOILER WARNING – the following unravels the plot in some detail. If you’re considering watching the film, go do that now, then come back.

Idea #3 – Focus

When Eustace arrives in Narnia, every new experience is horrible to him because it challenges his idea of reality. The things that enabled him to get his own way in England – his intelligence, spitefulness, arrogance, and ultimately his parents who spoil him – are useless in this wider reality. They cannot help him with strangers, or face up to evil.

By contrast, Reepicheep delights in facing every new challenge, even though he is only a 2ft talking mouse. He actively longs to go into the unknown, ‘to the utter east’. This is a significant change in his character from what we saw of him in Prince Caspian, and can best be explained by his encounter with Aslan at the end of that film. He no longer fights with bitterness, to prove himself – he fights with delight, to get to Aslan’s country.

hdhd

Needless to say, it is Reepicheep above all who irritates Eustace. Everything Eustace despises, he loves. He represents to Eustace this whole upsetting revelation of reality.

Things come to a head when Eustace tries to steal some gold and is turned into a dragon. Although he manages to let the others know what’s happened, he despairs; he is as far from his ordered world as it is possible to be, with no sign that he can ever get back.. and this reality seems to hold no joy for him either.

Turning point. Reepicheep notices Eustace’s dragon tears. He stays up with him through the night, sharing stories of adventures, and his longing for Aslan’s country, For the first time, Eustace realises his need for someone else, and lets them in. And so, for the first time, he sees there is some hope in this reality.

Reepicheep persuades Eustace to face the terrifying prospect of evil and join the final battle, because his vision of hope - of ‘Aslan’s country’ - is so much bigger than that of the dark island ahead. And though evil has a couple more tricks up its sleeve, it is Eustace in the end that defeats it, after his own encounter with Aslan.

As Reepicheep heads off beyond the edge of the world to Aslan’s country, Eustace is distraught to lose him. His guide in hope is gone. But then he remembers he is standing with Aslan, and his tears go – he is face to face with the very object of his hope. And he asks if he can come back to Narnia again! In Aslan, he has found something that, unlike his parents and his own capacity, will get him through this wider world.

hhds

Our world is just as frightening a place as Narnia, and you’ve probably noticed the things that used to give you security becoming useless as you get older and become aware of more of reality. (If so, we’re the lucky ones – many people around us were born into chaos, and have never known security) Equally, time proves many of the securities we develop as we grow older – our looks, our abilities, our careers, our savings – to be redundant too. In the face of the real evil in our world; to face that that evil and overcome it; we need a security that will hold firm.

As the crew of the Dawn Treader waited for the darkness to strike, I felt a lot of identification with them. As I look ahead I see the strains of work increasing, my body falling apart, my dreams not being fully realised, the people I love most dying, and ultimately, death. Some of those things really scare me. I have no idea how I’ll cope. What could keep me secure through a journey like that?

The answer to the riddle is given us by Aslan. He tells the children, ‘in your world, I am known by another name.’

Now you probably knew this whole Narnia thing was about Jesus, and have some reservations about kids films with religious agendas. I think what gives me peace is that if people know its about Jesus, then they know and can do what they like with it; if they don’t know about Jesus. Then it won’t tell them.

What the story actually does is give me hope and joy. Because when Aslan appeared to Eustace on that beach and roared, all the troubles of the world grew strangely dim and I saw Jesus on the cross punching through the screen towards me, raw and warm and thick and alive and wild and strong and true and God. And I saw that he knows me. He’s shown himself to me again.
hdhdh

Oh what a relief. I am not alone in this present darkness. He is real and so all darkness must one day go. There is nothing to compare to him. I’m sorry I’ve spent a fortnight, a lifetime, focused on other things beside you. They’re all nothing – even my family here next to me. I love you. I want you. Jesus. You.

The Ideas of the Dawn Treader #2

SPOILER WARNING – these three pieces all unravel the plot in some detail. If you’re considering watching the film, go do that now, then come back.

dhh

Idea #2 – Manhood

Edmund is doing everything he can to be ‘a real man’. He tries enlisting in the British Army, does a bit of sword fighting, considers hoarding gold, tries to be the leader; and nothing works. He is still plagued by the memory of the White Witch and her offer to make him King.
hghfh

Ultimately, their adventure puts him to the test and he fights an epic battle with a sea monster. He survives, and finally feels that internal sense of ‘I have what it takes’; he doesn’t need Narnia anymore.

I know the idea that there is a ‘crisis of manhood’ about at the moment in our culture. I’m not equipped to say whether that’s true or not. However it does occur to me that boys growing up have always faced this identity crisis, and always will. ‘Am I a real man?’

I’m still going through this process. I often feel out of my depth in my job, leading many people who are older than me, maturer than me, with fuller life experience than me; or all the above. And that not only involves setting direction and encouraging people forward; leading also requires saying ‘no’, challenging and correcting. Gulp. I often don’t know what’s the right decision myself, let alone imposing that on others. It’s what the job requires, I’m happy on that. The question is, can I do it?

The funny thing is, my position is a something I clutch at to affirm my manhood. I love telling people what I do. I’m dead impressed with myself. But clearly, my job title isn’t doing the trick. If I don’t find another source of affirmation, it’s going to make me feel less a man rather than more.

Edmund’s perspective is changed by a rite of passage. This is not a very new idea. Cultures throughout history from Aborigines to University Hockey teams have put their young men through hell and back to establish their manhood. Perhaps we struggle in our society with our sense of manhood because there is no standard system for it. Or many opportunities to prove it full stop. I feel really ‘mannned up’ every time I go to Africa, with all the adventures and difficulties that involves.

Now, I don’t think its essential to duel with a sea monster to establish your credentials. But as we face up to the challenges that life throws our way, we will make the journey. And the more challenges we take on, the more we will ‘man up’.

However, this raises another tough question. How do I know I won’t fail at these challenges?

Donald Miller in his excellent book To Own a Dragon reveals the surprising true indicator of what makes a ‘real man’. According to him, a real man is someone... who has a penis. That’s it. You don’t have to like football or beer or fighting or facial hair. You don’t have to listen to Mark Driscoll or earn lots of money or be in charge of anything. If you’re reading this and you’ve got man bits, you’re the real McCoy. Because the one who gave you your wedding tackle didn’t forget the rest of the package. He made you a man. You’ve got what it takes.

The Ideas of the Dawn Treader #1

I just got back from The Voyage of the ‘Dawn Treader’. Now I can’t sleep. I enjoyed the film; it was a good adaptation of the story that translated the theme of the book well into a more effective story structure. Obviously you miss out on some of CS Lewis’ way with words, and get some clunky moments where the ideas outpace the writer’s ability to express them, but I can live with that. Because some of the ideas that we handled well touched me deeply and it took until the credits ran out to savour it, wipe my tears away and reengaged with my family around me.

SPOILER WARNING – the following three pieces all unravel the plot in some detail. If you’re considering watching the film, go do that now, then come back.

Idea #1 - Self Esteem

Lucy is struggling with her self esteem. Specifically, she longs to look like her older sister, because of them admiration and attention Susan gets. Lucy discovers a spell that promises to make her look like Susan. She tries it, and in a dream finds herself as Susan at a garden party, looking beautiful and getting admiration. However, she discovers that in this alternative reality the person Lucy does not exist. Suddenly the experience doesn’t feel so good.

efwefw

Aslan appears to her, and challenges her she is wishing herself away. He affirms her, pointing out some of her unique qualities and contributions to Narnia. She burns the spell. Later, a younger girl wishes to be just like Lucy when she grows up. Lucy tells her no. ‘When you grow up you should be just like yourself.’

Although this is presented as a teenage girl’s struggle, I massively identify with it. I spent much of my GCSE revision period fantasising about living a different life, being somebody else, and I’ve done so plenty of other times too. I’ve also had plenty of other symptoms of low self esteem – constantly seeking approval from others then not believing it if I get it; isolating myself; assuming I am unlovable, an irritant or a burden.

I’d never considered that this sort of fantasising is linked with a struggle for self esteem, or that it is ‘wishing my life away’, but it makes total sense. Very helpful.

The challenge is to be convicted of the truth that I really am admirable, that I really would be missed if I disappeared, that the world would be worse off without me. I believe this a lot more than I ever have, because I have been well loved, and well supported to consider this issue in my life. But, as tonight demonstrates, I am going to continue to need revelations of my value.

Of course, part of the reason we long to be like others is that they are ahead of us on their journey – they are more themselves, and so more admirable for what they are. We cannot see the finer version of ourselves we will become, and so its harder to even navigate towards that, let alone be energised by it. Perhaps there is only one way.

rrr

As I watched Lucy run to Aslan and hold him, I felt richly that one like Aslan sees me, knows me, and delights in me. Oh how good that is for your heart. I need it desperately. How about you?