"And to those of you who didn't bother to read more than two sentences of it, three words: sustainable teakwood bifocals. Your loss."

I read it, all, Will. I also read your Myspace page. And I read it with my non-sustainable plastic contact lenses in. :0)

It took me right back, back to a cold, frosty night, a few years ago now.

I was sitting in The Manor Pavillion Theatre, in Sidmouth. On stage were Steve Knightley and Phil Beer, Show of Hands, in case you've not heard of their 'official name'. Steve introduced the next song, 'I Promise You' It's a song about so often having to endure hardship, before you find beauty. George Bush and Tony Blair had recently been voted in for a second time, and many around the world were stunned, shocked, and disbelieving, with a sense of deep dread about what lay ahead for the world.

Steve talked about it, saying that we had four more years of winter to endure, but we'd get through it, and at the end of that four years, the light would come back..

"..I promise you light returning
I promise you hope re-born
I promise you gentle mornings
I promise you new dawns
But first, we must bear the winter..." - (taken from 'I Promise You, by Steve Knightley)

The light, at least in the USA, has come back, and I've a feeling that pretty soon, they'll be sending a few beams out across the world. The hope has been re-born for millions, of all colours, of all backgrounds. All now feeling that they are part of the same 'family'.   

Over here in the UK, there are, at present, no lights to be seen. We are still in our Darkness and our Winter. But eventually, the light will return to us as well, as The Age Of Integrity begins to awaken all of those who for so long have turned away.

Barack Obama sang his own Song of Hope yesterday, using his own words. Those words came from his heart, not from a script, or a pile of cue cards, hastily put together to create 'impact', but straight from his heart, and his intelligent mind. He has a very hard road to go down, and he goes down it knowing that he has the hopes of millions on his shoulders, an incredibly heavy weight to carry. He'll find though, that those same millions will be walking that road with him, because this man has the ability to inspire, to lead, to connect, to understand, but most of all, he has the power to care. And so, that weight won't be quite as heavy as he imagines.

History will walk beside him, every step of the way, and he knows that.

You, Will, have a wonderful talent for writing, but you so often use your words in bitterness or sarcasm. It removes their power. You have the power to inspire too, if only you'd realise that. You've been given a gift. Use it wisely and it will bring you much light. Use it to belittle or abuse, and it will only bring darkness and pain.

There is much happiness out here in the world right now, alongside much hope. Ride with it, put that hope into *your* heart too, along with a determination so strong, to change this world around, that nothing will make you step off that path.

Barack Obama is about hope. He is about all of US realising that 'WE are the ones we have been waiting for.' He cannot do it alone, and he knows that. He needs us all, as we need him.

"I will never forget who this victory belongs to: it belongs to you" (Barack Obama addressing his people on the 4th November 2008)


So, write your socks off, Will...but do it with love, integrity and honour.

I Promise You that Yes, You Can!


Lizzie :0)