'Common Ground' Song 100 ‘One more step’
Words & Music: Sydney Carter © Stainer & Bell Ltd
YouTube recording: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YquLANPYiRU
Featured image: Dornoch Beach © Michael Dennis Stagg cc-by-sa-2.0

What does this song, dating from the 1970s or possibly early 80’s (when I first came across it) have in common with the one in my last post (‘May the Lord, Mighty God’)? The word is ‘courage’. The first song prayed that God would bless us with ‘courage in every endeavour’; this one, by Sydney Carter, asks God to ‘Give me courage when the world is tough’. A similar sentiment. The song as a whole is about change, and having faith that God will be with us through periods of change and uncertainty. ‘Where I see no way to go / You’ll be telling me the way, I know’. The word appeared again recently, in a prayer written by the Scargill community as they seek God’s guiding for a new community leader this year: ‘Come Holy Spirit, release us from our anxious thoughts, hold us in your love and joy, and help us to be courageous as we journey with you.’

I allocated the 150 songs in this collection to days of the year at the start of January, mostly randomly. At that time I knew that my job was under threat due to the charity that I have worked for struggling financially, as many charities are. I did not know then, that today would be my last day in the job. I leave – on good terms with management, who regret having to make their decision – with a month’s redundancy pay. Then what?

One thing I have learnt over the years, including previous occasions when a job has come to an end for whatever reason, is that God always has a plan. It might not mean another paid job straight away. It might not even mean paid employment, as I am looking into whether I could retire earlier than planned and have more time for voluntary work. But there will be something, I am sure. And God will give me the courage to step into it. ‘Ever old and ever new, keep me travelling along with you’. Amen.