A Walk with Aqualung – Aqualung Proper

Greetings Dear Reader,

First we are introduced to the main character.  He is not a pleasant man.  We do not know his history nor do we know how he came to be where he is.  What we do know is that he is both in need and in pain.

I immediately felt for him.  His pain and poverty touched my soul.  This was unique as I was already a very angry and quietly disturbed young man.  That I felt compassion for this fictional soul was something that has not stirred in me for a couple of years. 

We first see Aqualung as the disheveled man he is.  The hard electric guitar and heavy drums create a harshness that belies the compassion about to come.  The song shifts to a soft acoustic mode and gently demands that we see Aqualung’s pain and circumstance.  There is also the first hint of a theme that will carry throughout the album.  That theme being the place of the church in Aqualung’s plight. 

We are then treated to a harder view of his situation.  He is dying.  He smokes dog ends he picks up off the ground.  He freezes in winter and has no shelter.  More important the singer knows him.  He is trying reach out to him.

This touched a place in me that I was trying with all my being to wall up.  I have mentioned this once or twice before but I am sure at this age I was headed toward becoming a cruel and malevolent being.  I was brick by brick walling off all kindness and compassion within me.  This song in its beauty and harshness weakened the mortification of my spirit.  It kept the soil of my soul soft for the seeds that were to come.

Whether he intended to or not, Ian Anderson had begun to spin a thread in my destiny.  He does not realize that this single thread became the life line that would save me from eventual suicide.  I do know it and have always been very grateful.

The link with the lyrics is Jethro Tull comprised of Ian Anderson (guitar, voice), Martin Barre (Electric Guitar), John Evan (Piano), Jeffrey Hammond-Hammond (bass Guitar) and Barriemore Barlow (Drums) performing Aqualung during their Aqualung tour show in Berkeley, California, June 1971.   It is not the best performance of this song but the video does capture some excellent pictures of the band in the moment. This link will take you to a better recording of the song if you wish it.

Enjoy and please share your thoughts with me.

Aqualung – Ian and Jennie Anderson

Sitting on a park bench, 

Eying little girls

With bad intent.

Snot running down his nose

Greasy fingers smearing shabby clothes.

Drying in the cold sun

Watching as the frilly panties run.

Feeling like a dead duck

Spitting out pieces of his broken luck.

Sun streaking cold

An old man wandering lonely.

Taking time

The only way he knows.

Leg hurting bad,

As he bends to pick a dog end

Goes down to the bog to

Warm his feet.

Feeling alone

The army's up the rode

Salvation a la mode and

A cup of tea.

Aqualung my friend

Don't start away uneasy

You poor old sod

You see it's only me.

Do you still remember

December's foggy freeze

When the ice that

Clings on to your beard is

Screaming agony.

And you snatch your rattling last breaths

With deep-sea diver sounds,

And the flowers bloom like

Madness in the spring.

Wishing you joy in the journey,

Aramis Thorn

Mat 13:52 So Jesus said to them, "That is why every writer who has become a disciple of Christ’s rule of the universe is like a home owner. He liberally hands out new and old things from his great treasure store."

A Walk with Aqualung – First Thoughts

Greetings Dear Reader,

For those of you who do not know, the band Jethro Tull is my favorite of all bands ever.  I think that Ian Anderson is both a lyrical and musical genius.  My first introduction to the band was shortly after the album Aqualung was released.  I had recently suffered the loss of my Grandfather and was struggling with many other things.

For the uninitiated, Jethro Tull is the name of the band but no one in the band is named Jethro Tull.  The historical Jethro Tull invented the seed drill and changed agriculture forever.  He deserves his own kind of honor.

As I questioned the life around me I found no real answers.  The church told me I was bad and that my questions were unwelcome.  My home was not the stability I needed.  I was just discovering how much I loved music and I was knee deep in my hatred for God.  Then this piper called a tune that would change me forever.

I do not think I have ever clearly articulated how much this collection of songs around a single theme impacted me at that young age.  It is true I was young; only eleven.  Rock music was in its early adolescence.  Aqualung was not a concept album.  Ian Anderson made this very clear in a 2005 interview.  However, It carried a theme of its own that addressed an issue that young adults on both sides of the pond were aggressively pondering.  The United State was knee deep in Vietnam.

I bought the album based on the cover art and a series of verses on the back penned by Ian Anderson.  I had no idea how the honest question and directive penned on the back would change me.  I had no idea how much this music would impact my path and my faith.  So I invite you to journey with Ian and I for a bit.  He may not agree with all my inferences from his work but as the author his intent is truth in his writing.  As for my inferences they are mine and they are what have done so much to shape my thinking.

1. In the beginning Man created god: and in the image of Man created he him.

2. And Man gave unto god a multitude of names. That he might be lord over all the earth when it was suited to Man.

3. And on the seventh millionth day Man rested and did lean heavily on his god and saw that it was good.

4. And Man formed Aqualung of the dust of the ground. And a host of others likened unto his kind.

5. And these lesser men Man did cast into the void. And some were burned,

And some were put apart from their kind.

6. And Man became the god that he had created and with his miracles did rule over all the earth.

7. But as all these things did come to pass, the spirit that did cause man to create his god, lived on within all men, even within Aqualung.

8. And man saw it not.

9. But for Christ’s sake he’d better start looking.

Wishing you joy in the journey,

Aramis Thorn

Mat 13:52 So Jesus said to them, "That is why every writer who has become a disciple of Christ’s rule of the universe is like a home owner. He liberally hands out new and old things from his great treasure store."

Second Thoughts - Lingering Illness

Greetings Dear Reader,

Sometimes I will end the day with thoughts that are important to get out.  Usually I just write them and put them in my journal folder.  I have chosen that on occasion I will share them with you Dear Reader.

Early this spring I made an effort to increase my exercise and activity.  I had planned for some ventures that I have not indulged in a long time.  Then in early April a respiratory illness set in and has yet to let go of me.  I am finally on the mend but I have had little energy other than my day to day obligations.

In the imposed solitude of this I found that my passion even for writing flagged which led to me feeling even worse.  It made me very aware of the fact that I am growing older.  I do not wish to be one of those who complain about old age but I can feel subtle changes in my frame that warm me of a coming winter.

I am not depressed about it but I feel there are so many things I still wish to do.  I have noted that I am increasingly discontent with some things and that others could be daily habits and I would love them for life.  I cannot get enough time with my Children and Grand Children. 

I have also noticed that I sleep a little longer.  This is new and strange to me.  The differences remind me of a song from my youth.  As I approach the autumn of life it challenges me to be more genuine with who I am.

“Do you care what's happening around you? Do your senses know the changes when they come? Can you see yourself reflected in the seasons? Can you understand the need to carry on?”  - John Denver

Wishing you joy in the journey,

Aramis Thorn

Mat 13:52 So Jesus said to them, "That is why every writer who has become a disciple of Christ’s rule of the universe is like a home owner. He liberally hands out new and old things from his great treasure store."

A Christian Nation – Closing Thoughts

Greetings Dear Reader,

We are not a Christian nation.  It is time we decided that thinking we are hinders and does not advance the Gospel.  What then is our relationship to government to be as Christ followers?  Paul made this very clear:

Rom 13:1-10 Every person should obey the government in power. No government would exist if it hadn't been established by God. The governments which exist have been put in place by God.  Therefore, whoever resists the government opposes what God has established. Those who resist will bring punishment on themselves.  People who do what is right don't have to be afraid of the government. But people who do what is wrong should be afraid of it. Would you like to live without being afraid of the government? Do what is right, and it will praise you. The government is God's servant working for your good. But if you do what is wrong, you should be afraid. The government has the right to carry out the death sentence. It is God's servant, an avenger to execute God's anger on anyone who does what is wrong. Therefore, it is necessary for you to obey, not only because you're afraid of God's anger but also because of your own conscience.   That is also why you pay your taxes. People in the government are God's servants while they do the work he has given them.  

     Pay everyone whatever you owe them. If you owe taxes, pay them. If you owe tolls, pay them. If you owe someone respect, respect that person. If you owe someone honor, honor that person.  Pay your debts as they come due. However, one debt you can never finish paying is the debt of love that you owe each other. The one who loves another person has fulfilled Moses' Teachings.  The commandments, "Never commit adultery; never murder; never steal; never have wrong desires," and every other commandment are summed up in this statement: "Love your neighbor as you love yourself."  Love never does anything that is harmful to a neighbor. Therefore, love fulfills Moses' Teachings.

There are some very important things to note here:

• Paul is speaking of Rome under Nero when he insists that we obey the government.
• It is clear that God gives us the government we have and we are to work within it.
• He is clear that resisting the government is opposing God.
• No matter how evil a government may seem to us, God is using it to work out ultimate good.
• Whether they acknowledge him or not people in the government are God’s servants working out his plan.
• If we accept this as truth we need not fear the government if we are doing right.

So why do we spend so much energy on politics and so little on showing the love of Christ to our neighbors?  Should we not work as a church to feed the hungry no matter what the government does?  What would be the impact if we led the fight against aids instead of condemning homosexuality?  I am not weighing in on the rightness or wrongness of homosexuality.  I am simply weary of Christ followers not being know by their love for people with whom they disagree.  Why do we expend so many resources on the political side of abortion when we could make choosing to keep an “unwanted” child a profitable, loving, safe, and healthy alternative for the expectant mother?  Why do we allow the abuse and neglect of those who come here seeking refuge when we are commanded to welcome them and care for them? 

If we act as Christ commanded us to act there will be an impact that we cannot imagine.  This nation was born out of a rebellion against another government.  No matter how we characterize that now, we had other choices.  I cannot shoot my enemy and claim to love him.  I cannot rebel against the government over me and claim to be obeying God.  I love the nation I live in but I am also concerned that Christ followers want all of the privileges without any of the responsibility.

This is not a Christian nation.  No amount of rhetoric will make it one.  We could, however, choose to make Christ followers known as those who lead in love and care for others.  We could demand social justice for everyone.  We could shelter the stranger in our land and love them as a neighbor.  We could make this a nation where Christ followers are known by their love and not their politics.  I know this is what I must be.  How about you, Dear Reader?

Wishing you joy in the journey,

Aramis Thorn

Mat 13:52 So Jesus said to them, "That is why every writer who has become a disciple of Christ’s rule of the universe is like a home owner. He liberally hands out new and old things from his great treasure store."

Second Thoughts – The Passing of a Friend

Greetings Dear Reader,

Sometimes I will end the day with thoughts that are important to get out.  Usually I just write them and put them in my journal folder.  I have chosen that on occasion I will share them with you Dear Reader.

One of my students passed away suddenly last quarter.  His memorial service was held over the weekend.  Of the dozens of people there I only knew two.  I sat with my student’s mum for a couple of hours and we shared stories about him.

I realized how many of the same things we saw in him that we admired.  I saw how the deep love he had communicated for his mother has clearly been realized in their relationship.  I also got a rare glimpse of the ways in which I impacted this student.  I had no idea that I meant so much to him or that he credited me with so much of his success at school.  From my perspective I do not see the contribution but whenever I would introduce myself to someone they would remark that they had heard about me and how much this young man valued out relationship.

I journeyed home with the pain of his passing a freshly opened wound.  I also found a renewed understanding of the difference I can make in the lives of others. 

Wishing you joy in the journey,

Aramis Thorn

Mat 13:52 So Jesus said to them, "That is why every writer who has become a disciple of Christ’s rule of the universe is like a home owner. He liberally hands out new and old things from his great treasure store."

A Christian Nation – Measured by Success

Greetings Dear Reader,

In as much as I wish that the positive commands of Christ ruled our nation it is clear that they do not.  It is clear that we are by and large unheard and relegated to the margins.  What is the difference between what we do and what we are called to be as Christ followers?

The first difference I see is that we as a whole are not socially responsible.  We are not successful at living out the social aspect of the Gospel.  That aspect is the thing that earns us the right to be heard.  The track record of the church through history is shameful.  There are pockets of success and real living out of the Gospel.  There are many more incidences of the church abusing its power and position.

In the nation the church enjoys some very privileged status and freedom.  The only way to honor those benefits is to live out the responsibilities Christ gave us.   If I could work my way no church that did not live out the social message of the Gospel would have tax exemption. 

With freedom and privilege comes great responsibility.  Our failure to successfully address the needs of those around us means that we fail at the lateral aspect of the Gospel.  We cannot succeed and the vertical (spiritual) aspects if we ignore or even worse walk over the social one. 

If I wish to be heard on the subjects spiritual then I must have earned that right by living out subjects social as Christ commands me to do.  Taking on the name of Christ and ignoring the needs of our fellow man may be the highest form of taking the name of God in vain.

Wishing you joy in the journey,

Aramis Thorn

Mat 13:52 So Jesus said to them, "That is why every writer who has become a disciple of Christ’s rule of the universe is like a home owner. He liberally hands out new and old things from his great treasure store."

A Christian Nation – My (Our) Responsibility

Greetings Dear Reader,

Jesus made it clear that we are accountable to the governments that are over us.  We are to pay our taxes.  We are to obey the law.  The government provides certain things for us as well.  Roads and a power infrastructure are very nice. 

There is, however, an area where I may not relegate my responsibility to Christ.  It is the Christ follower who has been charged by God to care for the homeless, the sick, the imprisoned, the poor, the widow, and the orphan.  It is Christ followers who are to make the reality of the Gospel known through their care for those in need.

I have not right to protest things that are political in these areas if I am not doing something practical to relieve the burden.  I have no right to rail against sin that I find more socially unacceptable than mine when what I am supposed to do is assure that my actions aid in the care of the sinners.  I am supposed to compel the church I attend to address these needs.  I am supposed to attend to them even if no one else does.

The church has lost much of its credibility because it has in large relegated the social care of others to the state.  We are not allowed to relegate the charges that Christ gives us to the government or any other body.  The church and more importantly I am supposed be responsible to both Christ and my fellow humans for the social well-being of those around me.

If the church wishes to stand against abortion then why are they not caring for women with unwanted pregnancy in such a way that it seems foolish to go anywhere else?  If the church is going to take a social stance on health care why are not more church directing resources toward free or low cost heath care? If we find a problem with social welfare programs then why are we not assuring the welfare of society?

There is no substitute for Christ followers acting in love to relieve the burdens of others.  There is no limit to the amount resources that God will provide if the church channels them to the needs of others.  If we relegate the care of others to the state we should not be surprised when people and the state have little use for us.  This is not a Christian nation.  It is a nation of people who know in souls what Christ followers should be and what responsibilities they carry.  If I and you Dear Reader do not live out those responsibilities how can we expect to be relevant?  How can we hope to be heard?

Wishing you joy in the journey,

Aramis Thorn

Mat 13:52 So Jesus said to them, "That is why every writer who has become a disciple of Christ’s rule of the universe is like a home owner. He liberally hands out new and old things from his great treasure store."

A Christian Nation – Why We Do Not Want To Be One

Greetings Dear Reader,

I realize that if one does not know me and what I believe that some of what I am saying in this series of posts may be offensive.  Please let me take a moment to clarify that I do believe in God, the Bible, and that I follow Christ alone in my faith.  I am very theologically conservative but I also have no tolerance for making that theology Americanized in any way.

I am very certain that I do not want America to be a “Christian Nation” because our government has declared it to be one.  They have not and our constitution forbids it.  History teaches us over and over that we are not going to succeed and making any religion a state religion.  It always leads to killing people.  Killing people in the name of Christ is a bad idea. 

Do not think for a moment that I do not wish that every human being had a working relationship with Jesus Christ.  I do.  I believe that is the right thing to do.  I will not, however, suggest that Christ followers well behaved enough to handle the power that comes when the state requires people to follow Christ.  It always turns out bad when we do this.

It also flies in the face of what Christ offers the world.  No matter where you fall in the free will/predetermination debate if you are honest you recognize that Jesus says that whosoever will can come to him.  He never says that one must come to him because the law says to come to him.  We want to coerce and force that which Christ desires of others willingly.

It is not the place of Christ followers to demand faith in others either locally or nationally.  It is not my place to manipulate or push someone into seeing Christ.  It is my responsibility to love others so deeply and purely that they want what I have in Christ.  If I struggle daily with following in a way that is right and consistent imagine the horror that it would be if we handed over administration of daily faith and following to the government. 

I want a nation of Christ followers because they each have come to him of their own will and seen the beauty and grace that is there.  I do not ever want elected officials to tell anyone that they must follow Christ.  We are already too efficient at killing the innocent and those with whom we disagree.  We are not mature enough to feed our hungry and provide health care that works for everyone.  We do not want the sure results of a state sponsored religion or faith. 

I will continue to follow and be as loving as I can learn to be to others.  I will not weigh in on laws that tell us we have to have a certain flavor or morality.  I will love you Dear Reader for who you are and hope that you see enough of Christ in me that you want to know him better.

Wishing you joy in the journey,

Aramis Thorn

Mat 13:52 So Jesus said to them, "That is why every writer who has become a disciple of Christ’s rule of the universe is like a home owner. He liberally hands out new and old things from his great treasure store."

A Christian Nation – Why We Never Were

Greetings Dear Reader,

I cannot reconcile some of the things done to establish this country with what Christ commands me to be as his follower.  As a Christ follower reading books like A People’s History of the United States by Howard Zinn really caused me to examine what the early development of this nation had as a goal.  It seems that we cared much more for resources than we did people.

I agree that there were groups of people that came here with idea of establishing a God or Christ centered society.  I cannot find an instance where slavery, genocide, or greed did not rule instead.  I am not saying that everyone was evil or that there were not good intentions in some cases.

I am saying that we cannot claim to be a Christian nation when we allow slavery and destruction of indigenous people in the name of God.  No matter what destiny we think we have our treatment of Africans and Native Americans is in no way in keeping with the Gospel. 

Taking the name of God for the purpose of gaining wealth and resources is the opposite of the truth of Christ’s message to the world.  Once again those who followed Christ had many opportunities to show his love and grace to people who did not know him.  Once again the politics of greed and exploitation used God as an excuse to motivate the ignorant to deeds of horror and disgrace. 

That God gave us great resources and opportunity in this land is true because all good things come from God.  The founders were correct that the inalienable rights we have are from God.  They were right that there are biblical principles that should guide the development of this nation.  I cannot see a time when the governing built those principles into the nation for all people.

As a follower of Christ I must not harm anyone else in the name of Christ.  I must not use the name of God for my own purposes.  It is not my country right or wrong.  It is not the power of a nation that makes it right.  It is that I must follow all the commands of Christ without anything hindering my pursuit of love and peace.  I must live righteously and be an example to the best of my ability whilst respecting others at a level that they feel neither judged nor condemned by me.  The Gospel is a tool not a weapon.    

Wishing you joy in the journey,

Aramis Thorn

Mat 13:52 So Jesus said to them, "That is why every writer who has become a disciple of Christ’s rule of the universe is like a home owner. He liberally hands out new and old things from his great treasure store."

A Christian Nation – The Measure

Greetings Dear Reader,

Something I wish to be clear about before I begin this segment is my theology.  Theologically I am very conservative.  This does not mean that I side with the “religious right” or that I am a Republican.  It means that I believe in God and the Bible.  It means that I also believe that claiming to be Christian does not make you a follower of Jesus Christ.  It is just not that easy.  If you have questions for me about this feel free to ask.

So I ask myself what the measure of a “Christian Nation” would be in light of my beliefs.  I think first I need to see what the Bible has to say about a nation that is set apart to God.  Israel was commanded to be set apart as God’s people.  They were to be separate but treat everyone with love and respect.  They were to be an example of the right way to treat each other and strangers.

If we are to consider a nation to be following Christ then what must be true of that nation?  If we ask James, the brother of Jesus he makes it clear what true religion is.  “Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.”  Jesus made it clear that whatever we do to the least in society we do to him.  He also made it clear that we are to care for the poor and that they will be with us always.

This nation has never truly protected the poor, the homeless, and the oppressed.  Most of the organizations that address these needs well are not affiliated with the church.  So I will turn my attention to the church.  Those who claim we are a Christian nation do a very poor job of addressing these issues.  I realize that this is a generalization and that there are exceptions.  The thing is that there is more neglect than care.  The church in most cases has relegated the care of others to the state.  I will talk more about that later.

I challenge the church to make true care for the poor their banner instead of political stances and rhetoric.  What does that mean for me?  I am to address the needs of others whenever I encounter them.  It is not allowable for individuals to say the follow Christ and neglect the needs of others.  I am not to make meeting those needs a tool to coerce others to faith.  The acceptance of Christ must come from the natural action of his love for individuals as expressed through my actions.  I must show that love to others with no expectations attached. 

The measure of a nation that would claim to be Christian is the same as a the measure of a man who claims the same.  “By this will all men know that you are my followers – If you have love for each other.”

Wishing you joy in the journey,

Aramis Thorn

Mat 13:52 So Jesus said to them, "That is why every writer who has become a disciple of Christ’s rule of the universe is like a home owner. He liberally hands out new and old things from his great treasure store."