Tuesday's Musical Notes - "Eleanor Rigby" (The Beatles)

Good Tuesday to ya' neighbor!!!  It's the day of the week where we get to meet together in the internetosphere and explore strange new words, to seek out new life and new musical interludes, to boldly go follow where 1 man has gone before!  Unfortunately we don't have an Alexander Courage underscore to go with our intro, so let's just get started, shall we!!  Welcome to Tuesday and Tuesday's Musical Notes, where we inform, inspire and encourage with a soundtrack of well loved music and a dash of trivia to spice up the broth of our musical stew.  So get ready to strap in and rip off the knobs (radios used to have knobs). We launch in 5.....4....3...2..1!!!

Blastoff!!!

For those of you  born in the decades of the 50's and 60's, welcome to being "older".  Those born in the fabulous fifties are gracefully embarking on the scenic sixties, that age in life where transitions are met with a trepedatious gusto.  Those born in the scintillating sixties are experiencing the flashy fifties where most everything is met with an embrace like that of an old friend.  We are now the "older" folks.  Let's face it, the word "old" is really about perspective, not age.   Just look at the legacy in film that legendary actor Mickey Rooney did AFTER he turned 60.  Mickey Rooney Filmography  The iconic movie star died this weekend at the age of 93.  He began acting in films at the age of 6.  His acting/producing/directing credits are enormous.  He continued to be introduced to fans around the world as his body of work expanded across 8 decades.  What many may not know was the he was a leading advocate for elder issues, even testifying before congress about elder abuse.

70 and 80 aren't as old as they used to be looking through the image of 50 year old eyes.  In 1966, The Beatles began exploring the folks they considered "older".  What they found was the terrible sickness of loneliness.  This disease is not exclusive to those who are older.  It can strike at any age and be devastating in someone's life if they continue to suffer from it... just like Eleanor Rigby.

"Eleanor Rigby" - The Beatles

Backed only by a string ensemble (an octet that included 4 violins, 2 cellos, and 2 viola), The Beatles set about recording what would eventually be #137 of Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.  The song would also win a Grammy that year for best Contemporary Vocal Performance (R&R), Male or Female.  None of the Fab Four played any instruments for the string arrangement by George Martin, the producer of many of The Beatles' hits.  "Eleanor Rigby" went to # 1 in the UK but only would go as high as #11 in the US.  In the 80's a tombstone was discovered bearing the name Eleanor Rigby.  While not having met the actual Eleanor Rigby, Paul McCartney auctioned off a signed document by the lady that sold for $250,000.  The proceeds went to the Sunbeams Music Trust, a music therapy group that uses the creative processes of music to help the disadvantaged have a better quality of life.  In essence, Paul McCartney was looking at all the lonely people.

Each of us have had seasons of loneliness in our lives.  Perhaps you are even going through one now.  It has been well said that it is possible to be in a stadium of thousands of people and still feel alone.  This isn't the life that God had planned for us when He says in Jeremiah 29:11 -

 "For I know the plans I have for you"--this is the LORD's declaration--"plans for your welfare, not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope."

 

That being said, loneliness is not from God.  The converse of this scripture could easily be placed at the enemy's feet.  Reasonably, most folks don't consider that the enemy has a plan for their life as well.  His plan is not for their welfare, but for disaster, and a future of pain and anguish.  If the deceiver of men's souls is given the opportunity, he will deliver a life full of loneliness.  If we look all around us we can see lives that are living under that plan.  This is contrary to the entire theme of the Bible.  We were created to never be alone.  Time and again the Word assures us that God will never leave nor forsake us. 

Genesis 28:15 Behold, I am with you and will keep you wherever you go, and will bring you back to this land; for I will not leave you until I have done what I have spoken to you.”

Deuteronomy 31:6 Be strong and of good courage, do not fear nor be afraid of them; for the Lord your God, He is the One who goes with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you.”

Deuteronomy 31:8 And the Lord, He is the One who goes before you. He will be with you, He will not leave you nor forsake you; do not fear nor be dismayed.”

1 Chronicles 28:20

And David said to his son Solomon, “Be strong and of good courage, and do it; do not fear nor be dismayed, for the Lord God—my God—will be with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you, until you have finished all the work for the service of the house of the Lord.

John 14:15-18

¹⁵ “If you love Me, keep^[a] My commandments. ¹⁶ And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever— ¹⁷ the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you. ¹⁸ I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you.


If you find yourself in a season of loneliness now claim these promises as your own.  They are intense promises.  They are assurances that we can believe in every day of our lives, regardless of where we may find ourselves.  The choice we have to make is whether we want to claim those promises and follow the plans that God has for us to prosper or the evil one's plan for our destruction.  When we boldly go about doing the good works that God has already planned for us to accomplish, we can go about with a sense that we won't be counted among all the lonely people... where do they all belong...and we can rest assured that we are never alone...

"Never Alone" - Barlow Girl

'Til Tuesday,

Serving HIM by serving you,
Randy