The Genius that was Don Van Vliet

I cannot let the weekend pass without mentioning the passing of Don Van Vliet, otherwise known as Captain Beefheart, who died Friday in California. Along with his Magic Band, he entered my consciousness back in 1974 or so. Back then I used to listen to some strange output from my roommate’s stereo in a student flat in Earls Court in London - “Trout Mask Replica” “21st Century Quaker” - and the music as strange as the song titles.

Bit it was also oddly compelling, and I still have two CD’s of Captain Beefheart and his Magic band, “Clear Spot” and “the Spotlight Kid” which I have plugged into the car stereo and have been playing all over the weekend in homage to the maestro, as we were driving around doing Christmas shopping and other things. It’s a mix of gutsy blues and avant garde funky jazz, inspires by the likes of Howlin’ Wolf and Lightnin’ Hopkins. Black meets white, rural meets urban, acoustic meets electric. For sure, not your average Christmas music, except perhaps for Track 9, entitled “There ain’t no Santa Claus on the Evenin’ Stage”

There ain’t no way t’ pull the curtain

‘N hide from hunger’s rage

There ain’t no town t’ stop in

There ain’t no time t’ stop in

There ain’t no straw for my horse

There ain’t no straw for my bed

There ain’t no comfort in cold boards

There ain’t no rumours or food for my stomach

‘N someday I’m gonna be saved

‘Cause I gotta eat ‘n drink ‘n breathe ‘n sleep

‘N I’m ah slave

No, it doesn’t sound at all Christmassy, but it probably rings a bell with the homeless guys trying to keep warm by Oriente Metro station, and after all isn’t that what it’s all about. A manger is not a bed of roses, and Jesus did not have much better throughout his life.

"There was Thick Fog in Greendale..."

So began one of the more popular Postman Pat stories that played constantly on our car stereo on long road trips in Pakistan when the children were small. It had all the ingredients of a simple lost and found story for an intrigued 5 year old and a 3 year old. At least it kept them quiet.

Now, Every time the winter fogs roll in from the coast up the River Tejo and envelop our home in Parque das Nações in a white shroud, that first line always comes back to me.

Today was particularly magical. From early morning it was a white blanket. Then by about midday the mists began to clear.

At one point the sun came out about midday, even as the thick white fog continued to hang over the middle of the river. Looking out over the Vasco da Gama Bridge there was this eerie effect of traffic apparently disappearing into nothing ness. Life is sometimes like that. Sometimes you have to keep driving even though you don’t know what’s ahead and there’s not much to guide you. You have to trust the indications you have been given, and to know that the white glow all around you is a promise that gives you that somewhere up there is the sun, and that eventually it will clear, and you’ll know your way better.

Immaculately Conceived?

“Feriados” or public holidays are dotted around the Portuguese calendar like raisins in a current bun. They are a mixture of national and religious holidays. What surprises me most is that when you ask the average man in the street, people usually have very little idea what the holiday is for. They know it means a day off work, fewer traffic jams, and that the Shopping centres will be packed. Beyond that, it’s hard to say. Even smart well educated people will hesitate, scratch their heads and come out with “um..well, it could be Republic Day, or is it the restoration of the monarchy ..no .. actually I think its the immaculate conception.”

This week that is the one we have had. December 8th. The date on which in 1854, Pope Pius IX defined as dogma the idea that Jesus mother, Mary, from the moment of her birth was preserved by God from original sin and was filled with sanctifying grace. Being brought up in the Protestant tradition, I’ve never really had to deal with concepts like the assumption, the immaculate conception and the eternal virginity of Mary. So I’m afraid the logic escapes me a little. The idea of God taking on humanity in order to procure our salvation is a huge enough concept to comprehend. So why add to it ideas which have little or no Biblical support and which add nothing to the reality that Jesus was fully human. Something Jesus said to John at the time of his baptism comes to mind. I know I don’t “need” to be baptised, (he was free from sin) but it is still right for me to do so, as part of my humanity. Surely that "humanness" of Jesus would include also having a mother who was every way normal as other women. Surely it would include also being part of a family with brothers and sisters. Or am I missing something?

Miraculously conceived? Yes. The divine entering into human life. Immaculately conceived? Not if that means Mary, unlike anyone else the Bible speaks about or indeed, anyone else at any other time in history, was without sin.

Reforming the Resistance

This past week we so enjoyed having Jason, Sambo and Ryan stay with us along with Ryan’s wife Genette. The three guys form a rock group with the name“Reform the Resistance”. They are based out of Nashville, Tennessee, and had come to play in an event, “Rock on Christmas” organised by our friend Denny Hurst. The aim of the event over Tuesday and Wednesday of last week was to bring together young Portuguese rock musicians with Christian musicians from other places.

Their music was loud, energetic and aggressive. And yet they themselves were so authentic and gracious. Staying in our home we sensed the presence of Jesus in their lives. Sharing around the dinner table, laughing and talking about the Lord, it was like having family with us. Great to see the fire in their hearts and in their voices, and to know that God is raising up a generation who will stand up and be counted. Intrigued by the name of the band, I puzzled over it for some days and decided it was like this. We, the Church, we who name the name of jesus, are the resistance, going against the flow, trying to knock down Satan. But we’re not that good at it. We need - to be reformed. Constantly by God’s word and His Spirit. That’s it! they said. You got it. And their lyrics reflect the thought.

“Open your eyes, you’ll see the difference

I said open your eyes

The truth is dangerous

Fight for your right to think for yourself

The end is coming

We will not bow down to anyone

I won’t go back to sleep

I don’t want dreams and fairytales, no lies

my God, I’ll fight for you

You are truth.”

** www.reformtheresistance.com (you can download their music there)