18th August For Michael

Sometimes you hear a song and you just know its going to be a concert favourite. It might be the thunderous riff that will have everyone bouncing along, it might be the words that speak to you or perhaps the infectious chorus that will have tens of thousands of people singing at the top of their voices. This I think is one of those songs.

I probably first became aware of Snow Patrol whilst studying at Wesley house, Cambridge. Not through hearing it on the radio or CD but rather from a fabulous acoustic cover version of one of their songs, 'Run' played by one of my fellow pre ordination students, Michael, played to a silent common room during one of our acts of worship.

Leaving college together in 2008, we would meet together annually with all of our year group to catch up on each others news. Then later on in our ministries. Michael ended up being stationed in Cheddleston, a place where I ran their village 10km race on a couple of occasions, providing a further chance to catch up.

Sadly Michael was involved in a fatal car crash driving back from a church meeting in Feb 2016 and died leaving behind his wife Helen and four young children. Together with many of my fellow Wesley House students I attended a packed thanksgiving service for Michael in Bristol, where he had only just been stationed some six months earler.

A talented musician, possesor of a discerning mind and equipped with a wicked dry sense of humour, I cannot hear Snow Patrol without thinking of him and the tragic loss his death brought. So today this is in memory of Michael. This is Snow Patrol and 'All'


 


 

 

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