Fables and Faith : In troubled times, accentuate the positive
Posted on Monday, October 13, 2008
URL: http://www.nwanews.com/bcdr/News/66749/
Writing Fables and Faith since 2001 has been a joy and a great therapy for me. I hope I’ve been able to touch some lives for the better during those times — times that have contained some very troubling events, including the current crisis of economic structure.
While I believe most of this crisis has been caused by a greedy attitude on the part of those who should have been looking out for their fellow man, I’m still hoping and praying for some good to come out of it.
Lately, I’ve been trying to convey a message of hope talking about “ What a Wonderful World” in spite of difficulties. I continue to believe that when we look at what is positive in our lives, the negative aspects take on a more subdued meaning and retreat somewhat into the background. The help I get comes from a brain that refuses to forget some really beautiful lyrics in songs of the past. Maybe they will affect you in a positive way as well.
In a record album called “ Remember the 40 ’s Music of the War Years, ” Johnny Mercer sang a wonderful song he and Harold Arlen had composed — “ Accentuate the Positive. ” In light of our world situation today, where nearly every economic factor is being tested by fear, I’m thinking we should be playing that song on every radio and TV station in the country. You remember the lyrics don’t you ?
“ You’ve got to accentuate the positive; Eliminate the negative- Latch on to the Affirmative; and Don’t mess with Mister In-Between. ” A bit further into the song are these words: “ You’ve got to spread joy up to the maximum; Bring gloom down to the minimum; Have Faith or Pandemonium’s - Liable to Walk upon the Scene. ”
Many, who are my age or a bit more, will remember those lyrics, but I wonder how many of us remember another part of the song, which held these words: “ If you wanna hear my story; Then settle back and just sit tight; While I start reviewin ’ The attitude of doin ’ right. ”
It is incumbent upon our leaders — current and future — to seriously weigh their thoughts and actions with “ the attitude of doin’ right. ”
Some will conclude I’m way off base with this thinking, but I’m one of those who have to keep faith and keep praying for wisdom — for me and you and for our country. There’s another song that addresses what is happening to us right now. That song was written and recorded by the Beatles and goes something like this: “ When I find myself in times of trouble, Mother Mary comes to me; Speaking Words of Wisdom, Let It Be. ” The lyrics in that song that best speak to me today are these: “ And when the brokenhearted people living in the world agree, There will be an answer, let it be. “ And when the night is cloudy, There is still a light that shines on me, Shine on until tomorrow, let it be. ” Shalom !
• • • Bob Haynes ’ column appears on Mondays.