Poor Old Michael Finnegan

     Throughout my childhood and into adulthood, songs, and music in general, have had an integral role in my life. Music has helped me block out peripheral noises when studying; I’ve put to music Scripture verses and long Shakespearean passages to help in memorization; and, in times of stress, music has been a healing balm to my tortured soul. And, of course, songs of praise gently usher me into the presence of God.  
 

      Yesterday a childhood song popped into my head and has been like an ear worm ever since: There was an old man named Michael Finnegan. I have not been able to get this song out of my head. Nor have I been able to ignore the message. Poor Michael Finnegan encountered many absurd challenges in his life, but he was always encouraged to start over... and the song would repeat with another absurd account of Michael Finnegan's life events.

   What does this have to do with my first post of January? It’s the encouragement in the last line of each verse: Poor old Michael Finnegan, begin again. The song came to mind at a time when I’ve been chastising myself for having started this blog and not kept to my commitment to post three times a week. I don’t like to set goals and miss them. I don’t like to fail. (No, I’m not a perfectionist, just a perfectionist wannabe). Granted I have spent many hours promoting my new novel, Very Truly Yours since its October 2012 release. Since October I’ve had three book signings and made trips to New York, Florida and to Virginia twice. Add to that my church commitments as worship team leader and commitments to home and family and I have had an extremely busy holiday season. I've decided to take heart from the Michael Finnegan song, forgive myself and and begin again. It’s the New Year. What better time to start over?
 

   So my blog goal for 2013 is to cut back blog posts to once a week. I hope you will continue to follow me.

 Season’s Greetings.

Max

Very Truly Yours
A story of enduring faith in the face of adversity.



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