Musings of an Expagan

Many people out there think that in the decade of the 80s that music was devoid of message and meaning.  Many falsely believe that most groups out there weren’t putting out any ideological or political statements in their music.  Of course you had your U2 with their Joshua Tree Album featuring the songs Mothers of the Disappeared, Pride, and Sunday Bloody Sunday.

Lost on the generation of the 80s was that many popular bands did have deep and meaningful messages within their music.  Today I will take some time and and point out the deep seated and often highly political content of one of the popular bands of the 80s.

The B52s

During the early 80s, the B52s where formed out of the ideological and political currents of the day.  The underlying anger, and social disorder brought them together to forge a group bound by common sociopolitical and cultural Beliefs.

Love Shack

Was the song that most exposed their sociopolitical ideology, unfortunately the message was covered up by a way too catchy beat, that most society kept on dancing while the message fell on deaf (to the message that is) ears.  The message contained in this song is at once, both optimistic, and reflective, showing the world that the B52s did indeed have a message to bring into the unenlightened world.  Packed with metaphor, some would say too packed, the song brings up the shallowness of life, and humankind’s reach for deeper meaning.

The song opens with the lead singer discussing the ultimate destination of Man.

If you see a faded sign by the side of the road that says
15 miles to the… Love Shack! Love Shack yeah…

Here the singer is stating the deep seated need for direction in one’s life.  Direction, if missed, means that one will miss their ultimate destination.  The Love Shack is, while small,  warm and inviting, a shelter from the danger, and disenfranchisement that was felt by most of the youth of the day.  While possibly a fictional place, nay one might say imaginary, it was still a destination that had meaning for the writer.  Seemingly both a place of common discourse, and yet one where the inhibitions of man could be thrown off and everyone becomes equal.  Yet the longing of “The Love Shack” is felt in his forlorn voice, almost a cry for help, trying to reach this destination where his soul is longing.

I’m headin’ down the Atlanta highway, lookin’ for the love getaway
Heading for the love getaway, love getaway,

Here, the Atlanta highway, is a deep seated metaphor for life, the female singer longingly belts out she is living life, but there is more to it than just moving through time.  She is seeking something deeper, something more meaningful, something that each and every soul seeks.  Like St. Augustin in the Early 300’s when he cried out “Our Souls are Restless, until they rest in you! O Lord!” The singer opens her soul up to the world that something is missing, something deeper, something more thank life.  After reflecting on her life, she shows where her meaning is found, truly it is love that fulfills all, love that brings meaning to life.  She is living and seeking a life of Love, that is the true fulfillment of life.  We are not talking simply sex here, for sex is simply an act, where as true love is something that is sought by all, and listening closely you can her the deep and lonely call of her voice seeking that love that fulfills all, that third type of love, in greek: agape love which is the greatest of all love.

I got me a car, it’s as big as a whale and we’re headin’ on down
To the Love Shack
I got me a Chrysler, it seats about 20
So hurry up and bring your jukebox money

Here we are back to the male lead of the B52s, who now parallels the second point that he is living life, but again, I must point out that it isn’t merely existence, but something larger.  Life, again, he is saying, that without an ultimate destination, there is no help.  Again the target of this existence is “The Love Shack.”  Some have postulated that this could be many things, but the Catholic Theologian Hans Von Thurrigard, in his treatise “On the Destination of Heaven” postulates that the young male singer is seeking Heaven, and ultimate connection to God.  Echoed in the Forth Century writings of the Desert Fathers in many writings, of the ascetic school of early Christianity this longing with union and communion with God is the ultimate destination.  Next, the singers, allusions of his mode of transportation, “which seats about 20,” which is a clear metaphorical statement since most cars these days are not built to seat more than 5 at most, six without seatbelts; showing that he clearly wants to bring more along on this journey.  So insistent is his call, that he also tells them to hurry up, and to bring their “Jukebox Money” which also is an allusion to Treasure in heaven, which Christ taught “Do not store treasures here on earth, but store treasures in Heaven.”  Which is linked in the parable of the wealthy man who built up his treasures on earth, yet died unfulfilled in the hereafter.

At this point we have merely scratched the surface of the metaphorically filled, yet richly illustrated song that seeks the deeper meanings of man’s life and his place in the universe.  In my next post, I will explore the deeper reaches and meanings of this artwork as we delve into the meanings of:

The Love Shack is a little old place where we can get together
Love Shack baby, Love Shack bay-bee.
Love baby, that’s where it’s at, Ooo love baby, that’s where it’s at

Ted Kennedy has died.  I will be praying for him.

One cannot judge the state of another person soul.  I do not know what happened between him and God in the last hours.  All I do know is that I hope that when my end comes, I will have confessed my own sins, and that I have received absolution.

Hymn of St. John Damascene

As a flower withers and a shadow passes away, so every man will die;

but when the trumpet sounds, the dead will rise again as in an earthquake

to meet You, O Christ, our God!

Then, O Master, place in the abode ofyour saints the soul of your servant whom

You have taken from us.

Sermon on the Dormition of the Virgin Mary

Saint Gregory Palamas,
Archbishop of Thessalonica

Troparion – Tone 1

In giving birth you preserved your virginity,
In falling asleep you did not forsake the world, O Theotokos.
You were translated to life, O Mother of Life,
And by your prayers, you deliver our souls from death.

Kontakion – Tone 2

Neither the tomb, nor death could hold the Theotokos,
Who is constant in prayer and our firm hope in her intercessions.
For being the Mother of Life,
She was translated to life by the One who dwelt in her virginal womb.

My present talk for your appreciation is occasioned both by love, and by
necessity. I speak not only by reason of my love for you, and because I
desire that the word of salvation should be brought to your God-loving
hearing, and so nourish your souls; but also, it is necessary for me, in
addition to praising the Church, to expound on the majesty of the
ever-Virgin Mother of God. This wish, being twofold, impels and inclines
me, and unwavering duty also compels me; though speech cannot comprehend
that which is higher than any word, just as the eye cannot fix its gaze
upon the sun.

Although we cannot speak about that which surpasses all words, we may
offer hymns of praise out of love for the Mother of God, according to
our ability. If “the death of His saints is precious in the sight of the
Lord” (Ps. 115/116: 15), and “the memory of the just is praised” (Prov.
10:7), then how much more is the memory of the holiest of the saints,
through Whom all holiness has been accorded to the saints? I refer to
the Ever-Virgin Mother of God, Whose memory it now behooves us to
celebrate with the most exalted praises.

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Awaking from sleep, I worship You, O blessed God, and offer teh angelic hymn to you, O powerful Lord:  Holy, holy, holy, are you , O God! Through the intercession of your heavenlyhosts, have mercy on me.

O Lord, you have lifted me up from my bed and from sleep; now enlighten my mind, open my heart and lips that I may sing to You, Holy Trinity:  Holy, holy, holy are You, O God!  Through the prayers of all your saints, have mercy on me.

Glory to the Father (+), and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and forever.  Amen

The judge shall come suddenly and the deed of all shall be brought to light.  In fear I cry out at the break of day:  Holy , holy, holy are You, O God!  Through the prayers of the Mother of God, have mercy on me.

It was I who went to him.  He was on Golgotha and His bruised and violated body was hung on the tree of life.

He looked at me saying nothing, besides there was nothing to say everything was there right in front of me.

Clouds of demons surrounded the hill jeering and and screaming, while above them the heavenly host of angels looked on in immortal silence, their radiant faces not showing much emotion, yet a profound sadness seemed to hang there.

I approached the tree and fell at its base.  My arms wrapped around the implement of my salvation, yet I was weeping uncontrollably, knowing that it was myself and my faults and my sins that put him here.

I felt his blood dropping on my head, and still my the feelings of my unworthiness weighed me down like I was chained to the hill of his sacrifice.  These chains are forever clamped to my heart and soul and driven deep into the hill of his sacrifice, for it is there that they are broken.  Yet in a mysterious way still remain.

I am inexplicably chained to him in a way that I cannot fathom, these chains seem deeper and deeper than others that I know, and I have been fighting and pulling at them for years and yet, I know that it is by these chains that he will win me over.

At last, He drew His last breath, and heaven and hell became silent, eerily slilent, and the ground beneath me began to shake and buckle.

The legions of demons then fled into the abyss, their screams of hatred and malice becoming smaller and smaller, and the Angles continued to stand in adoration.

And I continued to weep, my sobs and breaths rising into heaven as a prayer asking for forgiveness for my part.

I awoke, my arms wrapped around my pillow, which was wet with tears, and again wondering if it were all a dream.

In the stillness of the night you came to me, I was on a cliff overlooking the earth.  He didn’t say a word but held out his pierced hand and I took it.

We ascended into the heavens, and he took me places over the earth, showing me the world that he saw, yet what I couldn’t.

As we moved from place to place, I saw legions of demons attacking mankind.  Many souls were lost and pulled into the black vortex into the abyss.  Legions of angels defended many souls, but still many were lost.

Tears streamed from the eyes of the Lord, mourning each precious soul that was lost, the corruption, and the torment they would have to bear.

I then looked and saw my Priest, and one of my very good friends, they were beset on all side by the demonic, they were being attacked in a vicious ways.  Their angles were there doing battle for them.

I awoke in cold sweats, not knowing if what I saw was a dream, or if it was real.  My logical mind raced to calm me down, telling me that it was only a dream.

My heart told me to bow my head and pray, for what I saw was the truth.  So I bowed my head prayed for my priest and my friend, and tried to fall back asleep.

In his honor go out and have a BBQ.  Look not meaning to be sick, but the Church has a sense of humor about these sorts of things.

the Patron Saint of Opticians had her eyes pulled out… The Patron Saint of Dentists had her teeth pulled out… Some sources put him as the Patron Saint of cooks…

The Martyrs Archdeacon Laurence, Pope Sixtus, Deacons Felicissimus and Agapitus, the Soldier Romanus were citizens of Rome, and suffered in the year 258 under the emperor Valerian (253-259). Holy Pope Sixtus, born at Athens, received a fine education, preached in Spain and was made bishop in Rome following the martyr’s death of Holy Pope Stephen (253-257, commemorated on August 2). In a short while St Sixtus also was arrested and put in prison together with his deacons Felicissimus and Agapitus.

When the holy archdeacon Laurence visited Pope Sixtus, whom they held in prison, he cried out with tears: “Where are you going, father? Why you forsaken your archdeacon, with whom always you have offered the Bloodless Sacrifice? Take your son with you, that I may be your companion in having blood shed for Christ!” St Sixtus answered him: “I have not forsaken you, my son. I am old and go to an easy death, but yet greater sufferings await you. Know, that after three days upon our death you shall follow after me. And now go, take the church treasury and distribute it to the poor and needy Christians.” St Laurence zealously did the bidding of the holy hierarch.

Having heard, that Pope Sixtus had been taken to trial with the deacons, St Laurence went there so as to witness their deed, and he said to the holy bishop: “Father, I have already fulfilled your command, and distributed by hand your treasury; forsake me not!” Hearing something about treasure, soldiers put him under guard, and the other martyrs were beheaded (+6 August 258). The emperor locked up St Laurence in prison and ordered the chief jailer Hyppolitus to keep watch over him. In prison St Laurence with prayer healed the sick gathered together with him and he baptized many.

Astonished by this, Hyppolitus himself believed and accepted Baptism from St Laurence together with all his household. Soon the archdeacon Laurence was again brought to the emperor and commanded to produce the hidden treasure. St Laurence answered: “Give me a period of three days, and I will show you this treasure”. During this time the saint gathered up a crowd of the poor and the sick, who ate only because of the charity of the Church, and bringing them he explained: “Here are the vessels in which is contained the treasure. And everyone, who puts their treasure in these vessels, will receive them in abundance in the Heavenly Kingdom”.

After this they gave St Laurence over to fierce tortures, urging him to worship idols. The martyr was scourged (with a fine iron flail with sharp needles), they burned his wounds with fire, and struck at him with metal switches. At the time of the martyr’s suffering, the soldier Romanus suddenly cried out: “St Laurence, I behold a bright youth, who stands about you healing you wounds. Beseech your Lord Christ not to forsake me!” After this they stretched St Laurence on a rack and returned him to prison to Hyppolitus. Romanus brought there a waterpot with water and besought the martyr to baptize him. And immediately after the Baptism of the soldier, he was beheaded (+9 August). When they took St Laurence to his final torture, St Hyppolitus wanted to declare himself a Christian and die together with him, but the confessor said: “Conceal for now your confession in thy heart.

After some length of time I shall summon you, and you shall hear and come unto me. Weep not for me, but rather rejoice, for I go to receive a glorious crown of martyrdom.” They placed him in an iron cage, under which they set an intense fire, and the flames of the fire flicked towards the body of the martyr. St Laurence, glancing at the governor, said: “Here now, you burn only but one side of my body, turn over the other and do my whole body”. Dying, he uttered: “I thank You, Lord Jesus Christ, that You have accounted me worthy to enter into Your gates” — and with these words he gave up the spirit.

St Hyppolitus took the body of the martyr by night, he wrapped it in a shroud with ointments and gave it over to the priest Justin. Over the relics of the martyr in the home of the widow Kyriake they made an all-night vigil and Divine Liturgy. All the Christians present partook of the Holy Mysteries and with honor they buried the body of the holy martyr Archdeacon Laurence in a cave on 10 August 258. St Hyppolitus and other Christians suffered three days after the death of St Laurence (13 August), as he had foretold them of this.

O Holy Angel of Christ:  in homage I come to you, my holy guardian who, since my baptism, have been assigned to me to protest my body and soul.  I beseech your powerful intercession.  I have often offended you by my indolence and bad habits.  You are without stain in your glory, and I have often driven you away by my sins.  I pray and beseech you, most holy guardian, be merciful to me, your sinful and onworthy servant.  Be my defender and aid me against my enemies.  Through your intercession, make me worthy to be a partaker of the kingdom of God with all the saints Forever.

Amen

Yesterday I took Sam to the Petsmart where I adopted him about two years ago.  It was heart breaking to see him back in a cage where I first found him.

I hope and pray that he will find a home where he can be happy and doesn’t have to be drugged.  Unfortunately my house isn’t that place.

Well. Tomorrow I have to surrender Sam. It is both sad and a relief. Sad because I truly love him. A relief because he is spraying….

I really hope it is the Dog setting him off. If that is the case getting him into a house without a dog will be key.

I still feel like crap for having to do this