Wednesday 24 December 2014

59. Rock Goes The Gospel - Rolling Stones - "Emotional Rescue"


The Rolling Stones are often described as the greatest Rock and Roll band in the world. Few would really dispute that title placed upon them. The dedication and persistence to there musical genius is an inspiration to all. This combined with the many years they have been going puts them in a class of their own.  More than any other band in any generation, whatever the fad or trend the rolling stones have weathered them all and not just weathered but shone like the sun. This is not to say that they did not experiment with different forms or sounds along the way. One exploration resulted in the song "Emotional Rescue" which became hot hit for them at the height of the disco craze in 1980.

Is there nothing I can say
Nothing I can do
To change your mind
I'm so in love with you
You're too deep in
You can't get out
You're just a poor girl in a rich man's house
Yeah, baby, I'm crying over you
Don't you know promises were never made to keep
Just like the night, dissolve in sleep

[Chorus]
I'll be your saviour, steadfast and true
I'll come to your emotional rescue
I'll come to your emotional rescue

[Verse 2]
Yeah, the other night, crying
Crying baby, yeah I'm crying
Yeah I'm like a child baby
I'm like a child baby
Child yeah, I'm like a child, like a child
Like a child
You think you're one of a special breed
You think that you're his pet Pekinese

[Chorus]

[Verse 3]
I was dreaming last night
Last night I was dreaming
How you'd be mine, but I was crying
Like a child, yeah, I was crying
Crying like a child
You will be mine, mine, mine, mine, mine, all mine
You could be mine, could be mine
Be mine, all mine
I come to you, so silent in the night
So stealthy, so animal quiet

[Chorus]

[Verse 4]
Yeah, you should be mine, mine, whew
Yes, you could be mine
Tonight and every night
I will be your knight in shining armor
Coming to your emotional rescue

[Outro]
You will be mine, you will be mine, all mine
You will be mine, you will be mine, all mine
I will be your knight in shining armor
Riding across the desert with a fine Arab charger

Do you need an emotional rescue? The truth is that most of us do from time to time. Most of us will face a crisis and will encounter Mr Churchill's black dog. During these times we all will need TLC, understanding and compassion and what is sung here "Emotional Rescue"

This does not mean that we need locking up or need "Prayer Ministry" or a visit to therapist or councillor. A caring insightful good listener family member, partner, spouse can be the entire emotional rescue that we need in most situations. We all may just need  someone just to listen to us in our darkest moments. Someone that can give us support, a comforting hug. Another way of handling a crisis is to get away from it all, to step away from the emotional turmoil of our lives and do something completely different, A holiday, a night out with friends, a retreat, travel, a trip to the movies, a night in with a good book, play some sport, go for a walk. These things can help us re-focus, re-charge and re-engage. The can become healing experiences, they can be a time to create the best in us, a time for us to re-discover what is really important in our lives.

There are many things that cause us to face a crisis. the loss of a job, a severe illness, a relationship breakup, the death of loved one, the re occuring dreams that bring back painful memories. The thing is do not go this alone, seek help sooner rather then later before the issue escalates and reaches catastrophic proportions. If it does get that far don't give up. Remember it is possible to overcome these kind of "mind pressures" if you have the right kind of rescue.

Jesus knew the pressures in his ministry that were unending and unceasing. People came to him day after day with illness and problems. I think he was often in the place of being just a few steps away from burnout. Jesus knew the blessings and benefits of getting away from those pressures for  a while.
Matthew 14: 23 "After He had sent the crowds away, He went up on the mountain by Himself to pray."
Mark 6:46  "After bidding them farewell, He left for the mountain to pray."
Luke 6:12  "It was at this time that He went off to the mountain to pray, and He spent the whole night in prayer to God."
Luke 9:28 "Some eight days after these sayings, He took along Peter and John and James, and went up on the mountain to pray "
Matthew 5:1 "When Jesus saw the crowds, He went up on the mountain "
Luke 5:16 "But Jesus Himself would often slip away to the wilderness and pray "
 For Jesus getting away from it all was part of his survival technique . Re-focus, Re-charge, Re-engage. It was not only useful but absolutely necessary . Can we really say that Jesus needed emotional rescue. Yes we can, the gospels suggest that in Jesus' humanity he shared the same needs and faced the same issues as we all do in life. His culture was different from our technological age but nevertheless he faced what we all face from time to time. Stress, Tiredness, Fatigue - He knew what to do about it. He did not ignore his body clock and to redemptive measures. We too need to learn from Jesus and take redemptive measures. Looking after our body, our minds, our physical, mental and spiritual heath is really important. Take some time out this Christmas to do the things that bring you life. May God Bless you.



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