I recently acquired a Bette Midler CD for my birthday, and at the current time, I am fixated with her version of the song “From  a Distance” which I have played on repeat in my car for periods of time.

The song, which I love, has caused me a bit of a dilemma because I don’t actually think I understand the lyrics (see below for full lyrics of the song by Julie Gold).

The song seems to imply that from a distance all seems fine, but in reality real close up, we all know that this is not the case, for example, From a Distance:–

The world looks blue and green

There is harmony

We all have enough and no one is in need

And there are no guns, no bombs and no disease and no hungry mouths to feed

(So, I get that – are you with me so far?)

But then, here is the rub with me with this song:-

God is watching us, from a distance

Now this, to me, seems to imply that God sees the blue and the green and white mountains and the harmony and the absence of violence, famine and disease.

I prefer to think that God (who I do believe in, for the record) is up real close and lives within each one of us.

In that case, my logic is telling me (S)He experiences the world through us and in us and that (S)HE is aware of all our suffering, anguish and joy.

I am on a journey, to release my soul from it’s anguish, and although I am fairly reluctant to theologise that journey, I am prepared to acknowledge the element of the Divine; the element of the everlasting; the element of the deepest love; that is God within my soul.

That said, I love this song and Bette Midler is a legend so I will keep it on repeat for some time to come!

My next blog will be: Jeremy Kyle

William Defoe