Daily Worship

Between the Wars

Dr Iain Jamieson October 31, 2016 0 0

2 Thessalonians 3:6-9 

Now we command you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you keep away from any brother who is walking in idleness and not in accord with the tradition that you received from us. For you yourselves know how you ought to imitate us, because we were not idle when we were with you, nor did we eat anyone's bread without paying for it, but with toil and labor we worked night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you. It was not because we do not have that right, but to give you in ourselves an example to imitate.

I was a miner
I was a docker
I was a railway man
Between the wars
I raised a family
In times of austerity
With sweat at the foundry
Between the wars

I paid the union and as times got harder
I looked to the government to help the working man
And they brought prosperity down at the armory
We're arming for peace, me boys
Between the wars

I kept the faith and I kept voting
Not for the iron fist but for the helping hand
For theirs is a land with a wall around it
And mine is a faith in my fellow man
Theirs is a land of hope and glory
Mine is the green field and the factory floor
Theirs are the skies all dark with bombers
And mine is the peace we know
Between the wars

Call up the craftsmen
Bring me the draftsmen
Build me a path from cradle to grave 
And I'll give my consent
To any government
That does not deny a man a living wage

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yLQgkF_FsO4

I have actually never listened to this song without tears in my eyes until the last note.

I was never a miner, nor a docker, nor a railwayman, nor any of the traditional "working class" jobs that Bragg mentions in his opening lines. What I was, was a wee lad from a perfectly respectable middle class family (a teacher and a bank accountant). 

I was a doctor not a docker but every inch "working class" in that role - and have been all my professional life. 

After an 80 hour working week, I would challenge anyone to say I wasn't part of a "working class". I, along with any number of "blue collar" workers, outside of the boardrooms and the hedge funds, put in the hours and sweat to support my own family "through times of austerity" .

Still do.

I guess in 1980 whatever, I listened to this song and nailed my colours to the mast. Almost every line resonates with meaning. "Not for the iron fist but for the helping hand" "theirs is a land of hope and glory, mine is the green field and the factory floor".

I bought into that.

That's what Christ was all about - compassionate socialism.

I bought into Christ.

So, tonight as I listen to "Between the wars', I find this prayer:

 

Jesus, you never cared for titles or position or any of that nonsense we think is so important.

You were all about personal choice.

Loving and labouring until we can't.

And I ask for your strength

To care for my family

In this time of austerity

With sweat at my own foundry

Till there are no wars...