What’s going on?

I believe in Making the Days Count, and I believe in the power of music. And I believe in the beauty of nature and so much more. I’ve been working on my essay and reading a few more essays from the book, in between chapters of Hamilton and other things.

I drove home from the lake Saturday afternoon my mind filled with thoughts.

Sunday morning, I sat on the deck reading the paper and planning my day. I skimmed messages and noticed my friend, Carl, had posted a song to Facebook and Instagram.

I listened to the song and replied to Carl’s prompt, ‘we’ve got to find a way.’ On Facebook, I replied, “Indeed, change begins with you and me, we must be the change we want to see in the world. I am going to do a good turn and pay it forward. Peace.” My replies were personal, about where I was at the moment. A few hours later, I understood there were more ways to listen to the song, to hear the words, and this morning I find myself seated at my desk scribbling a post together.

instagram
Click to listen

A few hours later, I sat in church and listened to the sermon. The reading was ‘The Parable of the Good Samaritan’ Luke 10: 25-37. I had heard the parable many times, it was a good morning to hear the story again. It had been a tough week for our country: Minnesota, Baton Rouge, and Dallas. Our pastor was asking us to find a way, to reach out, to make a difference, to do a ‘good turn.’

27 And he answering said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbor as thyself. Luke 10:27

I listened to the ‘What’s Going On,” again and again. My Marvin Gaye songs recycled as a mowed the lawn Sunday afternoon. I spent the rest of the day lost in my own thoughts, it had been a tough week.

Brother, brother, brother
There’s far too many of you dying
You know we’ve got to find a way

There are far too many dying.

When Marvin Gaye released the song, the US was mired in the Vietnam War, returning veterans were struggling, and our nation was trying to find its way.

Almost a half century later, our nation is still trying to find it’s way. To date, 340 people have been murdered in Chicago, last year it was 484 souls.

Too many.

And sadly, there is irony in how Marvin Gaye’s life ended – gun violence.

You know we’ve got to find a way

I am still working on my ‘This I believe‘ essay and I am working to make each day count and paying it forward.

It’s close to home today. I spent almost an hour trying how to embed an Instagram post in a WordPress and came up empty. Maybe, I’ll find a way, but that’s not what Marvin was singing about, today is gonna be a great day. I know it and can feel it, so I’d better jump up, jump in, and seize the day. Making the Days Count, one day at a time, trying to find a way.  

How can we bring some lovin’ here today? What’s gonna be your “good turn?”

This post is part of series of posts titled Tuesday’s Tune. If you are interested in writing a guest post on Making the Days Count dot org for Tuesday’s Tune, send me a note in the mail – clay@makingthedayscount.com . Peace.

“What’s Going On”
performed by Marvin Gaye

Mother, mother
There’s too many of you crying
Brother, brother, brother
There’s far too many of you dying
You know we’ve got to find a way
To bring some lovin’ here today, eheh

Father, father
We don’t need to escalate
You see, war is not the answer
For only love can conquer hate
You know we’ve got to find a way
To bring some lovin’ here today, oh oh oh

Picket lines and picket signs
Don’t punish me with brutality
Talk to me, so you can see
Oh, what’s going on
What’s going on
Yeah, what’s going on
Ah, what’s going on

In the mean time
Right on, baby
Right on brother
Right on babe

Mother, mother, everybody thinks we’re wrong
Oh, but who are they to judge us
Simply ’cause our hair is long
Oh, you know we’ve got to find a way
To bring some understanding here today
Oh oh oh

Picket lines and picket signs
Don’t punish me with brutality
C’mon talk to me
So you can see
What’s going on
Yeah, what’s going on
Tell me what’s going on
I’ll tell you what’s going on, ooh ooo ooo ooo
Right on baby
Right on baby

Songwriters: Alfred Cleveland, Alfred W Cleveland, Marvin Gaye, Marvin P Gaye, Renaldo Benson

2 thoughts on “What’s going on?

  1. What is required for your Tuesday tunes blog? I may be interested.

    I too wonder – what the heck is going on? I get that people are angry with the government, with the economy, with a lot of things, but killing isn’t the answer. EVER! It’s all so senseless to me.

    Have a great rest of the week and enjoy every special moment of every special day.

    Patricia Rickrode
    w/a Jansen Schmidt

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