Saturday stands to be one more glorious dawning of spring. I, however am beset with a head cold. I give credit to Fortune for smiling upon me as the medication enabled me to sleep through the night. Discomfort notwithstanding I am eager to experience what the day holds.

We viewed an outstanding film last night. Song Sung Blue is a 2025 biographical musical drama film starring Hugh Jackman and Kate Hudson as Mike and Claire Sardina, a real-life Milwaukee husband-and-wife duo who found success as a Neil Diamond tribute act named “Lightning and Thunder”. The scene is the Milwaukee area of Wisconsin. Having lived in Lake County Illinois a short drive from Milwaukee I can attest to the authentic feel of the dialog, and the hustle-born-of-heart for the music.

Brother Love’s Traveling Salvation Show was featured near the end of the film. The song was a hit for Neil Diamond. He reported the lyrics came to him subsequent to visiting a tent revival meeting in Mississippi. I by origin, grew up in the South. As a kid I was present at my share of revival meetings. Diamond’s song has a catchy tune, the lyrics prompting a flush of nostalgia. The old fashioned revival evangelists were desired on account of their rhetorical artistry, and the congregational singing was a guaranteed draw to these meetings.

As a kid I remember being taken to a meeting on a hot Sunday afternoon, under a big circus tent. Waiting for things to get underway it was stifling. Maybe the heat facilitated visualization of hell, a theme never to be neglected? Ushers passed out cardboard fans to move the air. Sawdust was on the ground. After the crowd had been sufficiently warmed up, the KFC collection buckets were passed around. You were “guilted-to-pay-up” prior to game-on-sermon delivered by Oliver B. Greene, evangelist. In my adult memory, I can appreciate how affirming – telling his followers what they already believed, and wanted to hear.

The sermon finished, and the spirit was moving, then came the segue into the healing portion of the event. People came forward, stood in a line, in order to have “God’s Man” pray for them. Walkers, wheelchairs, crutches, etc.. Some were “slain in the spirit.” A few were given the microphone to testify of being healed of chronic illnesses.

I swear to you that all I have written is true.

I am sure there is NO “big other” supernaturally powerful to overcome our physical maladies, or to clean up the mess we have made of our habitation.

But wait, a chord of authenticity is sounded by the lyric: Take my hand in yours/
Walk with me this day… That’s where redemption is found. 

Let’s enjoy Neil Diamond’s song!