Song Lyric Sunday: For the Record- Kumbaya

Helen’s direction for this week’s Song Lyric Sunday is to share a song about respect. My son, Sreejit Poole, recently wrote a blues song called For the Record- Kumbaya. I think his song is both profound and deeply moving. I have been looking forward to sharing it with those who read my blog and the Song Lyric Sunday community.

Sreejit lives at Amma‘s ashram in Amritapuri, India. His blog is The Seeker’s Dungeon

This short introduction precedes the singing.

Why do we call it civil rights instead of basic human decency?
The wings of science and spirituality, or possibility and love, should foster a world where no one has to beg for respect
– but limited is our vision when our intelligence we neglect
or we try to fly with one wing, as the case may be.

Song Lyrics (The lyrics are also written on the video.)

I’ve got a pen and a thought,
I’ve got a story trapped deep in my heart,
I’ve got a freaky little way to start.
but it seems the words don’t want to come out, I’m feeling a little restless now.

Who read my soul, who read my soul and turned away.
Who read my soul and turned away.

Kumbaya My Lord, Kumbaya
Kumbaya My Lord
– but for the record, the words don’t want to come out ’cause I’m not feeling very holy now.

I’ve got a pen and a thought,
but I’m scared to write the words for the power they’d impart.
I’ve got a lot of careless things to say,
I’ve got a lot of minds to mold my way.

Who read my soul, who read my soul and turned away.
Who read my soul and turned away.

Kumbaya My Lord, Kumbaya
Kumbaya my Lord
– but for the record, the words don’t want to come out ’cause I’m not feeling very holy now.

Who read my soul and turned away.
because they didn’t have the time for more than just a smile, and a “have a nice day?”

True love it comes from above, and I don’t expect it,
but a little bit would be fine with me.
It would be fine with me.

Kumbaya My Lord, Kumbaya
Kumbaya my Lord
– but for the record, the words don’t want to come out ’cause I’m not feeling very holy now.

Lord come quickly ‘cause I’m falling down.
You better catch hold, ‘cause I’m not gonna catch hold.

Lord I’m running never to be found,
unless you catch hold, ‘cause I’m not gonna catch hold.

Lord come quickly ‘cause I’m falling down.
You better catch hold, ‘cause I’m not gonna catch hold.

Lord I’m running never to be found,
unless you catch hold, ‘cause I’m not gonna catch hold.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DP9EsJxsYdc

cropped-senior-salon

Shared with Senior Salon

Song Lyric Sunday: Blues

The direction for this week’s Song Lyric Sunday is to share lyrics from a Blue’s song. Sreejit from The Seeker’s Dungeon, and who also happens to be my son :), has composed and sung numerous Blue’s songs over the years. The one I have chosen to share here is called Feel My Blues.

Lyrics

Hear my words and be confused
as you look into my eyes and feel my blues
happiness is hiding from
the darkness to which my heart has clung.

Oooh wooh oh oh
Lost control

I hold the answers but my heart wants more
don’t even care what I’ve been fighting for –
dreams are there to hold me down
forsaking the peace that I have found.

But so long as I hold on to sleep
– it keeps me in darkness
– I’ll go on pretending.

Hear my words and be confused
as you look into my eyes and feel my blues
happiness is hiding from
the darkness to which my heart has clung.

To contentment I’ve said goodbye
there will never be any compromise
as I fight for what could never be
and stir the fire that burns within me.

It doesn’t take but a moment
to destroy a life’s work beyond all atonement.

Hear my words and be confused
as you look into my eyes and feel my blues
happiness is hiding from
the darkness to which my heart has clung.

Tearing down old walls
to make space for new ones –
enjoying the comfort of being
wrapped in illusion.

Hear my words and be confused
as you look into my eyes and feel my blues
happiness is hiding from
the darkness to which my heart has clung.

Oooh wooh oh oh
Lost control

Can You Say, Too Much Information?

Today I was remembering a post Sreejit wrote when he arrived in America from India in 2014. I laughed just thinking about it. A few minutes ago I read the post to friends who are visiting and we all laughed. I decided to share it with all of you. Enjoy!

On the Road with Sreejit

My son Sreejit has been working in the kitchen on Amma’s South Kerala and North India tours. Most of the pictures below are of Sreejit’s kitchen friends. As you look at them, consider that the temperatures in these cities range between 90 and 100 degrees!

12791033_1584595128530437_8424184896374501994_n — Kanyakumari programs

12728833_1581035062219777_1078982291212930701_n — Cooking in Chennai

12805916_1592607297729220_3898952748640488859_n — On the road to Bangalore (Sreejit’s in the middle)

156333_1594035177586432_7019058678178414395_n — Kitchen work in Bangalore

12809591_202297866801841_5737834726230606763_n

All of the pictures are from Sreejit’s Facebook page.

Reflections on Fear

Over the years I have learned many sayings and acronyms relating to fear. I have found them to be useful tools in my own life journey and have also used them with clients in my psychotherapy practice. Here are the ones that come to mind at the moment:

Feel the Fear and Do It Anyway.

Fear and excitement are two sides of the same coin.

We can see fear as:

False Evidence Appearing Real

Forget Everything And Run

Feeling Excited And Ready

Face Everything And Rise

Other important factors:

It is important to feel Fear when we are in danger. The emotion indicates that we need to take action. Fight or Flight might be necessary.

Most of our Fear however is Fear of the future. We often feel much more Fear of what might happen then we would feel if it did happen.

Fear may also mask another feeling. That usually happens because there were unacceptable and acceptable feelings in our families of origin. In my childhood home, feeling Fear was fine. Feeling anger was not. Therefore, I learned to feel Fear at times when I was actually angry. Once I saw this pattern, I realized it was important that I ask myself if I was angry anytime I felt Fear.

There is so much I could say on this topic but instead I am going to end with the video that Sreejit used at the beginning of the Dungeon Prompt that inspired this post. I find the video deeply moving. It also demonstrates many of the aspects of fear I have addressed.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=txPQC8NB_-M

Sreejit on North India Tour

My son Sreejit has been helping with Amma’s North India tour since February 26. He hasn’t written for his blog, The Seeker’s Dungeon, during that time, but he has been posting pictures on his Twitter account. I have really enjoyed them and thought some of you might also be interested. You can find them at: @SreejitPoole. (You do not have to a member of Twitter to see them.)