Nicky Chiswell is one of my very good friends.  We did the parenting stuff together.   When her family moved inter-state I was sad.  I made a promise that if she ever did a new album, I would come to the launch.  Back in June 2011, Nicky held a concert called “Bring your Friends“, it was recorded and this album is the result.  I love it.

Three of my friends travelled to Melbourne in a quick 24-hour trip.  Don’t follow our example of travelling together.  Two of us got the dates wrong and were due to return home before the concert even began, none of us were on the same flight and then one of my friends got lost on the freeways and it took her two and a half hours to find me.  I kept getting frantic calls from her – she had no idea where she was, she had lost her glasses and couldn’t read the street directory and I was utterly powerless to anything other than pray.  We made it to the concert with seconds to spare and it was worth every cent and all that worry.

Nicky is a born story-teller and she tells the story of Jesus in her songs and between her songs. She has used the gospel of Luke and we meet Jesus and a number of different people, including Martha – what woman does not identify with Martha?   If you took a friend to a concert of Nicky, your friend would encounter Jesus and be challenged to think about wanting to meet Him face to face.  This album is easy to listen to and filled with thoughtful and compelling lyrics.  I find it comforting and challenging.

The songs I return to are “the worry song” and “circle”.  I can relate to worry –  I deserve a degree as I effortlessly find things to worry about.  Circle is the story of Nicky going to her 30-year school reunion.  It is a song about friendship that spans over time.  It captures the essence of friendship that has lasted where there are bonds that tie friends together.  Next weekend, Keith and I are going to Melbourne and will spend time with Graeme and Nicky.  What a treat!  It will be a bit like that circle song for us.