A Message In The Rhyme
A Message In The Rhyme: A Journey With M.E. By Poet Simon Icke
| Simon Icke born 1955 in Little Hulton, Lancashire. Fourth born child of five to George and Jose Icke (nee Lomas). |
| I came from a humble background and was brought up on a tough large council estate. My father was an educated man, a draughtsman by profession but was also the 'jack of all trades', he had electrical and mechanical engineering skills, he was a leading union man, played the piano, spoke German, made Radios and fixed anything electrical and loved books, wrote long letters in lovely hand writing. He had a big influence on my life; especially his love of words, verbal & written and I loved to debate all kind of issues with him until the early hours of the morning. He taught me the importance of honesty and justice. He taught me to stand up for the 'little man' and the down trodden. I was one of 10 pupils from Bridgewater Primary School that passed my 11 plus (an excellent achievement for a primary school amongst a Salford overspill council estate) However, I soon became a rebel at grammar school, its authoritarian style and draconian discipline didn't suit me. It wasn't long before my rebellion got me into trouble with the teachers. At the end of my third year at the school I asked my father to 'get me out of the school ASAP before I got into serious trouble'. I said I wanted to make a fresh start at the local comprehensive. My father agreed to my request and persuaded the Headteacher to release me! (What a great father, to trust my decision at just 14 years of age.) It was a good decision as the local comprehensive had a completely different approach to teaching and discipline. For a start pupils were called by their first name and you were allowed to sit down in morning assembly! I really started to enjoy learning again and despite the mostly wasted three years at Grammar School, I excelled in English Language and Literature and gained the school prize for History. I gained enough O'level passes to obtain my first job in the Treasurer's Dept. of Manchester City Council. As a junior clerk I continued to study on a day release basis. I was very ambitious and quickly gained many promotions. I worked hard both in my employment and my studies. Eventually finishing my local government career as a Senior Finance Officer and a qualified accounting technician. It was during this time that I married Valerie who I first met at the local comprehensive school, Joseph Eastham, in Little Hulton. We were married in 1976; I was only 20 and Valerie only 18 years old. (Twenty-six years later we are still together and live in the village of Aston Clinton, Buckinghamshire with our four sons). My dad had brought up his five children to be 'free thinking' when it came to religion. He was an agnostic but fairly well read in most religions of the world. It must have blown his mind when three of his five children became Christians by individual choice, each having a 'born again Christian conversion experience.' From working class rebel to ambitious young man I became a Christian in 1979 largely through my older brother Jimmy's influence and his persistence in telling me about Jesus and how he had changed his life from 'motor bike rocker' gang leader to Christian evangelist! Oh and of course God's grace! A few weeks after my Christian conversion, my younger brother Danny, was diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumour. At only 18 years old he was given only weeks to live. My new found faith was put to the test. I remember reading Jesus' promise in John's gospel 'Anything you ask in my name, if you believe you shall have it, I will give it to you'....wow what a promise! If Jesus was alive, then He could heal people today, if we asked and believed.!........Over a difficult few weeks, of more and more bad news from the consultants and brain surgeons, Danny continued to deteriorate, losing his mobility, his hearing and most of his sight as the tumour grew larger and put more and more pressure on his brain. It seemed at the very last minute, at the very edge of death, our prayers were answered. It happened one Saturday when it seems Danny had been laid out to die, whilst in Christies Hospital, Manchester. I had been to visit Danny in the afternoon, trying to talk to him but with no response. On the way home from hospital I visited a Pentecostal Church I had been told about in one the poorest parts of Manchester, Moss side. By chance, (God's design) the minister was preparing the church for the following day. I told him my story; that despite all the bad news I believed Jesus would heal my brother. I had such an assurance about it, despite the prognosis. The pastor invited me to pray with him in the little church...as I prayed, asking for a sign that Danny would be healed I felt the mighty presence of God's Holy Spirit. It was overwhelming; I felt the pure love of Jesus Christ. It was all around and within. Tears of joy flowed down my face, I was speechless, the pastor knew, he just smiled and said put your trust in Jesus....eventually I regained my composure thanked the pastor and left for home. That night Danny's girlfriend Sue phoned after visiting Danny that evening. Her voice was very excited as she declared. 'Isn't it great about Danny! We were shouting to him and he said what are you shouting for I can hear every word you are saying.!.....He then just got up and went to the toilet unaided!" 'We couldn't believe the change!" "Alleluia!" "Praise the Lord!" Danny had been healed...... That was in 1979, 23 years later Danny is still well, he is a driving instructor and lives with his wife Suzanne and has four children. Praise the Lord indeed. Who said miracles don't happen today. Our God is Alive!...Our mighty God can do anything! So that was the beginning of my Christian walk, for many years I was on fire for the Lord and spoke in many places, churches, schools, prisons.etc....many people were saved at the meetings as God used me as an instrument to give my testimony and preach the gospel. Unfortunately during the 80s I was distracted from my Christian ministry and was side tracked into politics standing in local elections and campaigning on all kinds of issues and good causes. Leading youth groups, voluntary work with the probation service etc. In 1983 we moved from Lancashire to Brighton, on the south coast of England. Having two young children and moving to a more expensive area, the debts soon began to mount. We couldn't sell our house up north and property prices were rising fast in the south. We were under a lot of pressure. I realised there was no choice but to find a job where he could earn good money which despite the status of being Senior Finance Officer at Brighton College the salary was relatively low. I took a big risk and went on the road selling insurance for a major insurance company. I became very successful and soon doubled my income. Senior Executives soon noticed my sales figures and they requested me to go and work at head office in London as part of a new ideas team.. During 10 very successful years with this company I became one of the most successful Sales Managers in the UK. However, perhaps because I was so conscientious and competitive I gave more and more to the company. And the company had an insatiable appetite. Working longer and longer hours and neglecting my family and my Christian faith. The inevitable happened I completely burnt myself out physically, with virus after virus. I became severely run down and eventually had to stop working altogether. I was totally exhausted; I could not walk more than a few yards without having to sit down. Even simple tasks became physically and mentally exhausting; like mending a plug or making a cup of tea! Eventually after many tests and examinations I was diagnosed with M.E. I had to see many Doctors; including company doctors and specialist. I was told the company would be retiring me on ill health grounds at the age of just 39. It was a bombshell, I was devastated, I felt this was it, the end of my career, the end of my ambitions, and the end of my life! The frustration of having a chronic illness with no known cause or cure, together with the jealousy of so called friends who envied me being retired on a pension at such a young age, the lack of challenge of a busy job and the lack of people interaction I was used to. Not surprisingly it led to me becoming depressed, and prescribed anti-depressants tablets, I felt trapped in a dark tunnel; with no end in sight. I still had a faith, it was my faith in Jesus Christ and the comfort I found in the scriptures that gave me the inner strength to keep going. My responsibility for my family and the knowledge that family looked to me for leadership in many areas of their lives, gave me the reason and resilience to carry on. I couldn't give up and the anti depressant pills weren't the answer. I was depressed because of my chronic health problems and the personal frustration of my life. Not because I was depressed, depressed. (If you know what I mean). I decided to take no more 'mind scrambling drugs' I would find personal happiness again and get my self confidence back, some other way. (I am not advocating people on medication for depression suddenly stop taking their pills, it's not a medically sensible thing to do, it's just something I did). For several years I had tried many alternative remedies, (some that came highly recommended), including herbs, vitamin supplements, aromatherapy, physiotherapy, massage, acupuncture, etc. I came to the conclusion there were no easy answers in any of these, some remedies had short-term benefits; especially hydro-therapy, physiotherapy and massage, but none provided a cure. I started to feel a little stronger so started to do what I could in the local community, helping manage the local junior football teams (without doing any of the physical running). I also started writing football poetry and asked if I could read some of my poems in the local primary school. The children loved the poems so much that I challenged all the pupils and their families to write a football poem and organised a poetry competition. (It was the time of 1998 world cup, so football fever had hit the village.) There was such a good response that with the help of teachers and some parents I put together an anthology of the childrens' poems called FOOTBALL! FOOTBALL! FOOTBALL! And published it myself. It was a great success selling 1200 copies and raising over £1000 profit for school funds. Encouraged by the success of this book I joined the M.E. poetry groups, that exchanged poems by post; one was a Christian group and one wasn't. This became a source of great encouragement to me, to be in regular correspondence with other M.E. sufferers around the country who shared my love of writing. I self published a personal collection of my poems in November 2000. Titled, 'A Message in the Rhyme'...the introduction reads: Simon began writing poetry about life and some just for fun. All his poems are written in a simple rhyming style, however many have a cutting edge, that will challenge and provoke the reader to examine his or her own values and beliefs on a number of issues. There is a message in the rhyme........... (All profits for this collection to The ME Association) Getting involved in life again through reading and writing poetry, writing to newspapers and politicians about many different moral issues and helping people in the community with their paperwork and 'administrative problems' not to mention organising football teams and matches for local junior teams, has helped me feel much more optimistic about life and regain my self worth. Even though I still have many physical problems, including arthritis in my joints and chronic prostatitis, all on top of the usual M.E. symptoms. I have learnt to live with poor health and do what I can when I can for people in the community. I have also learnt to say 'no' to people and to invitations to get involved in their good causes and social invitations. I have learnt to live one day at a time and not make long or even medium term plans. I have learnt to rest when my body tells me too (despite pressures sometimes from others to do what they want when they want). I have also learnt not to take any notice of well meaning people with 'new age type cures'. I put my trust in Jesus Christ and thank the Lord for each day I am able to make a positive difference in the lives of the people I meet. I feel happy in the knowledge that others might be challenged in a positive way by my poems or letters and other writings ......whilst there is life left in this body I will continue to fight the good fight.... I look forward to eternity, when one day I will have a new pain free body but until then.... there is much good still to be done, many just causes to make a stand on, much love still to give to many needy people on this earth. 'Be bold, be strong for the Lord your God is with you'. Have the courage to make a stand for what you believe to be right and true...... |
| Simon Icke Simon Icke www.simonicke.purpledream.com |
A selection of poetry from “A Message In The Rhyme” By Simon Icke Depression Down, down I feel so low. Trapped in a tunnel, with nowhere to go. Cut myself off from all my friends, I'll work this out in the end. Dark, dark that feeling inside… Nothing looks good; I just want to hide. There must be people in whom I can confide, Understanding friends, who are on my side? One day at a time is what I hear, No need to live life full of fear. Do you really need that anti-depressant pill? With hindsight every mountain becomes a molehill. Don't give in to this dark mood, Fun and laughter can be your food. Love yourself and say, 'I am what I am,' Ignore this hard world you know you can. Just take the time to work this out, To overcome a life of self doubt. God loves you, the way you are. Your new life awaits, it's not that far. Do you know how it feels to be me? How do you know how it feels to be me? There’s a lot more to me than what you see. Have you felt the same hurts and pain? We’ve different experiences; were not the same. You live in your own protected world, Life’s not that simple, that I can fit your mould. I’m surviving the pressures of everyday living. Oh why can you not be more forgiving? Your careless hard words, if only you knew, How they cut me, through and through. I would love to be well like you my friend. I hope my painful journey is near its end. It's not my fault It's not me it's the others, It's me that always suffers, Always blame the other guy, Don't listen to that lie. 'It's not my fault, You know it never is. They're wrong, I’m right, That's the way it is.' 'Look in the mirror, If only you could see. What others try to tell you, Then you might be free.' Sorry! At last I realise, It's not your fault, It's me! Living In The Fast Lane Life's so quick; life's so fast, At this rate will I last? How on earth will I stay sane? Living in the fast lane. Peace of mind I have no more. Simple life has gone for sure. Always wanted in constant demand. Mobile in car, mobile in hand. No time to talk to an old friend, New friend, computer says ' press and send'. Half-hour lunch if you are lucky. Eat whilst running your fast food Kentucky. Send a letter. 'It takes too long', Fax and E-mail are the new song. Internet instant message has just beckoned, Chat to global village in a second. How long can I keep up this pace? Will I ever finish the New World Race? My life is spinning out of control. A high price to pay for selling my soul. LOOK DOWN TO NO ONE It's dangerous to generalise and say 'they are all no good'. Different gifts and talents are needed, I'm sure that's understood. Do you feel superior? or is it really fear? Put away your prejudice and your bigoted idea. You're equal to the next person, no better or no worse. Try saying something positive, instead of the usual curse. Everyone's a child of God, everyone's unique, So let's look down to no one and offer friendship when we meet. (A timely reminder perhaps?) Looking For God In A Hard World Looking for God in a hard world is not easy. Does anyone care about the poor and needy? Why are the rich so greedy? Violence wars and hatred, famine and drought, So many go without, It's no wonder people start to doubt. Some people say there is no God, But with the next breath they blame Him, isn't that odd? As they try and make it on their tod. With life in such a mess, We could say why care about the rest? Have you thought this could be a test? Perhaps after God's creation, He just forgot to mention, There would be lots of tension. Where does He come from, where does He go? It's like the wind, I do not know, Yet His mighty power does show. Good will prevail over evil in the end, And forgiveness a broken relationship will mend. Wasn't Jesus sent to be a friend? Ask and it will be given, Knock and the door will be opened, Seek and you will find. Love one another Give love and a smile, It will take you and others that extra mile. For what you give you will receive, The more you give the less you grieve. Imagine what a world it would be, If I loved you and you loved me. If we multiplied this love to everyone we know, It wouldn't be long before it started to grow. Jesus came into the world, to show us the way, To love one another every day. In this new millennium, as we celebrate His birth. Let's try and remember why He came to this earth. Moving On This is my time, I've lived your time, Found a new rhyme. Time to move, Time to grove. Time to search a new life, Turn my back on this strife. Searching and spinning, Looking and waiting, This is me, moving on, Old life gone. What's on offer? Something new? Something for the few? Time for a life review. Think you know me? Looking cool I see, Happy are we? Searching and spinning, Looking and waiting, This is me, moving on, Old life gone. This is me, living a new life, Say goodbye to old life. This is me, moving on. Why not come with me? This journey's free. You know you can, I could be your man. Searching and spinning, Looking and waiting, This is me, moving on, Old life gone, Old life gone, I'm moving on. Save Us Save the planet from pollution, Does anyone have the solution? Save your soul and find redemption, Lord deliver us from temptation. Save our world from the bomb, Who else has the atom? War in Europe, live in fear. Is it true the end is near? Save the foxes from the dogs, Is anyone interested in saving frogs? Elephants , tigers, pandas and whales, Who will care for the snails! Save us from fast drivers in our village, What next rape and pillage? Crime and violence in our street, Where are the police? In retreat? Phew! It's getting hotter! Global warming does it matter? Who is that on the phone? Are we safe in our own home? Save us from these gloomy thoughts, I'm sure it will all come to nought, It's not yet time for the requiem, So let's enjoy this millennium. War has no winners! When will man ever learn? What wisdom needed to discern? No killing is above the law, No winners in any war. 'We won't put up with their threats, We'll kill the enemy with our jets.' Top Brass to control the press, Tell the truth, more or less. 'Collateral Damage' is what they call it; don’t like to say what caused it. Innocent people blown to pieces, don’t mention this in press releases. It seems we never learn from history, finding a peaceful solution, still a mystery. We live the lie of 'war and glory.' War has no winners, is the truthful story. What Wonder is this? I stand so small in this big wide world, Looking up to the heavens, stars in vast array. What wonder is this, too much to contemplate? Does my life matter in this amazing creation? Where does my destiny lie? Where will it end? How can my mind take in this infinite wisdom? To think man in his arrogance can ignore all this. I stand here in awe of God. Just a speck of dust in the universe. Just one person in the sea of humanity, Yet what I do and say does make a difference. What wonder is this mysterious paradox? One day all my questions will be answered, All will be revealed in eternity. © 2000 Simon Icke |
| A Message In The Rhyme is available to M.E. Support visitors at the price of £1.00 with all profits going to The ME Association. Please send your order, cheque (made out to ‘Simon Icke’) and self-address envelope to the address below. Please Tell-A-Friend about M.E. Support and A Message In The Rhyme to help promote the awareness of M.E. |
| Message In The Rhyme Mr Simon Icke 15A Long Plough, Aston Clinton, Buckinghamshire, HP22 5HB. |
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