The living – more scary than the dead

Many of my best friends are now in a different spiritual dimension. What we commonly call dead. I like to keep in touch with these people. My Father and Mother, Granny and Granddad, Harry who moved over there thirty five years ago when only 21, Doug a couple of years ago at forty four and Paddy, my brother went last year at forty nine – there are many more. I have almost as many friends there as here.
They may from time to time – and I’m not getting into big debate about this right now – they may come to us in a physical form. My Dad in trees tall and wise, and Doug as a bird who may shoot across my view when I’m taking life too seriously are just two examples.

If you don’t believe spirits take bird form what about that beauty that followed the Spanish golfers in the US Open on Friday? Obviously it was the recently departed Seve Ballesteros being his usual inspirational self. I know this because the bird was later seen hitting a perfect three wood from the car park to the heart of the fifth green.

But dead people are easy. You ask and your prayers are answered. Their greatest joy is to do good for others.

Try that with living people. It is not easy. For example try picking up the phone and asking friends to help you with a project that involves them parting with money?
It’s scary. It leaves you open to rejection, humiliation and possible alienation – and those are the fears you can identify.
But what about the unknown fear – I don’t know what it is or it wouldn’t be unknown, but it’s a powerful bastard – it shouts in your ear, “do something else, anything else, write a letter, say a prayer to your mother, do not start phoning people asking them to part with their money”.
It is a stubborn insistent voice of discouragement but luckily I’m more stubborn still so I began to phone. Slowly!

For three days I phoned ten people a day and what did I get? Love!
Is that all? No! I got money too but I got love. I disturbed people lives with phone calls about my things and me – they smiled and gave – many from their pockets but all from their hearts.

What was I scared of? I don’t know but when I think about the calls I’ve yet to make I’m still scared. The living are definitely scarier than the dead but they do have one thing in common – their greatest joy is to do good for others.

The following words are not from my new, about to be released, album, “Life is Funny – The Pianobike Kid”. This song will be on some future album but surely these lyrics are relevant to what we’ve just been talking about. “Only Love is Real” arranged by Mark Haffner – something quite different. Listen to it at the end.

Only Love is Real
I’ve read thousands of pages and researched for ages, a seeker of truth
Trying to intellectualise, the meanings and the roads of life
But there’s something that I feel … only love is real

Children are playing, their laughter displaying a world of joy
Is it the innocence of youth or the hidden and eternal truth?
Something that I feel … only love is real

Where the bombs fall there is love on the ground
Hear the rescue call. There is love all around
Where the well runs dry there are angels who bring
Through the darkest sky there is love on the wing

Surrounded by nature, the beautiful creatures, the flowers and the trees
Resting with my mind at ease. Simply knowing I am one of these
Something that I feel … only love is real

Let go of pomposity, greed and ferocity. Let it all go
These pale impostors must pass, love stands centre stage at last
Something that I feel … only love is real

Where the bombs fall there is love on the ground
Hear the rescue call. There is love all around
Where the wells run dry there are angels who bring
Through the darkest sky there is love on the wing

This world may seem crazy, but it’s really amazing when you bear this in mind
All this will pass in time. We will leave it all behind
Something that I feel … only love is real
Something that I feel … only love is real

Click here to listen to Only Love is Real