Jidgel! Jidgel!

In this week's episode, Dennis Jernigan shares the story behind his song, "Jidgel! Jidgel!", from the album "The Chronicles of Bren: Captured – Songs for the Journey". That mp3 is available at https://www.thechroniclesofbren.com/store/captured-songs-for-the-journey-album/ The lyrics can be found below.

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You will find the show notes and lyrics below:

 

 Welcome to The Dennis Jernigan Podcast. The purpose of this podcast is to help you find healing for your wounds; find hope in your despair; find intimacy in your loneliness; find refuge from the storms of life; Basically, to help you find a deeper walk with Jesus. There is one thing I know after having lived all these years: God wastes nothing. Not our sorrows. Not our wounds. Not even our failures.
 Hi. I am your host, Dennis Jernigan, and I am so excited about the next few weeks of the Dennis Jernigan podcast because I absolutely love the subject matter that we're covering. 

 For the past few weeks I have been sharing the stories behind songs inspired by  fantasy book series I wrote for my children and grandchildren. You are used to hearing me share the stories behind songs of worship and praise; songs of ministry; songs of comfort; songs from Father God’s heart to ours…but the song I am sharing today was inspired by a 3-book series of fantasy novels I wrote for my children and grandchildren way back in 2015. The first book in this three-book series is called Captured (Book 1 in The Chronicles of Bren Trilogy). You may be asking yourself, “Why would a worship leader and song receiver write  series of books and songs about a fantasy world?”
 I won’t share everything that has led me to the writing of fantasy novels. You can simply listen to the podcasts from “Riding the Wind’ to today’s episode in order to catch up. That being said, I will share a brief story that may give you insight into the reason I would create a fantasy world.

 For many years, from my early childhood and even well into my early adult years, I felt rejected by most people and had a deep desire to know my father's love for me. I had already believed the lie of the enemy, deeming myself unlovable. Each night as I went to bed, I would dream of being a little boy on the starship enterprise and my dad was Captain James Tiberius Kirk. My mother was Doris Day and she was always singing Que sera sera, whatever will be will be. Each night in those dreams, I found myself captured by aliens, placed in captivity, and being readied for execution. Just as I was about to be destroyed, my dad, Captain Kirk, would materialize with his weapon, his phaser, set not on stun but on destroy. Every night I was rescued in those dreams and I woke up right at the moment of rescue. As I have looked back now, I can see how creatively God engineered those dreams to paint a picture of what he had already done for me by the work of the cross. He used fantasy through my dreams to paint a picture of his great love for me. I truly believe that with all my heart. And that is the reason I am sharing these songs from my fantasy books.

 The song I am sharing on this week’s episode is called “Jidgel! Jidgel!”, a song I wrote for the book “Captured (Book 1 in the The Chronicles of Bren Trilogy). “Captured” is my life story written in allegory as a legacy to my children and grandchildren. As I wrote the books, I envisioned what it might sound like if Disney ever made a movie based on these books. I completed the songs for the first two books but never got around to writing songs for book three. That book is about my vision for my 9 children…and their real-life stories are still being written. They will need to write their own songs.
 This week’s song, “Jidgel! Jidjel!”, was received sometime in 2015 0r 2016 and was intended to infuse a bit of humor in the story as well as to paint a picture of taking ownership of our own feelings and attitudes and points of view, that regardless of our circumstances, we can choose joy. In the land of Bren, there is a place known as The Forbidden Swamp. It is massive and almost impassable, yet due to circumstances, our protagonist, Leonolis, needs to find a way through The Forbidden Swamp.

He is led to a feisty old man, named Jidgel to seek a way through. 

 The name for this character was invented by one of my sons when he was just a boy. My son is one of the most creative people I know. One of  his funniest ideas was the way he spoke about what he would call his one-day children. He told me that when he had a son he would call him Jidgel! I never forgot that and decided that this character’s name had to be Jidgel. Jidgel represents self-reliance and personal responsibility…and also a beacon of wisdom. Jidgel lives alone and fends for himself in the swamp, daring to live where others fear to tread. As a result, he sees through the trappings of government and superficiality of mankind and evokes a sense of accepting people just because of who they are and not for what they can do for him. Leonolis trusts him quickly once he discerns the wisdom coming from this feisty little man. 

Jidgel was one of my favorite characters to write.  He is very curmudgeonly and bluntly honest and has no fear of what others may think or say of him. Leonolis asks Jidjel to show him the way through the swamp and the keeper of the swamp, as Jidgel is known, challenges him to walk in wisdom. His purpose is to challenge young men and women, to not hold others responsible for their feelings or their attitudes or for their lots in life. He challenges them to hold themselves responsible and to walk as one who is responsible. He believes it is weakness to  blame others for your misfortunes. He challenges Lronolis to learn to make something beautiful even out of his misfortunes just as Jidgel saw beauty in a place most others in the Kingdom avoided. I absolutely love this song. Sorry you’re about to get a song stuck in your head for a few hours, but it’s just fun to say and sing the name Jidgel…

SONG

Jidgel showed reverence to the boy, Leonolis, but was very honest with him. Though Jidgel was not a constant character throughout the three book series, he is one of my favorites simply because he loved Leonolis enough to be honest with him.

His character could have written these words from Pro 3:11-26 NIV 11 My son, do not despise the LORD's discipline, and do not resent his rebuke, 12 because the LORD disciplines those he loves, as a father the son he delights in. 13 Blessed are those who find wisdom, those who gain understanding, 14 for she is more profitable than silver and yields better returns than gold. 15 She is more precious than rubies; nothing you desire can compare with her. 16 Long life is in her right hand; in her left hand are riches and honor. 17 Her ways are pleasant ways, and all her paths are peace. 18 She is a tree of life to those who take hold of her; those who hold her fast will be blessed. 19 By wisdom the LORD laid the earth's foundations, by understanding he set the heavens in place; 20 by his knowledge the watery depths were divided, and the clouds let drop the dew. 21 My son, do not let wisdom and understanding out of your sight, preserve sound judgment and discretion; 22 they will be life for you, an ornament to grace your neck. 23 Then you will go on your way in safety, and your foot will not stumble. 24 When you lie down, you will not be afraid; when you lie down, your sleep will be sweet. 25 Have no fear of sudden disaster or of the ruin that overtakes the wicked, 26 for the LORD will be at your side and will keep your foot from being snared.

 I hope you find joy and encouragement as you read the books and listen to the songs. They really are refreshing ways to help you find Jesus even through the most difficult times of life. And besides, laughter does good like a medicine. Just try saying the name Jidgel without at least smiling a bit!  

 Thanks for tuning in to The Dennis Jernigan Podcast. For more about me, my story, or my music, visit dennisjernigan.com. You can also catch me on Facebook and Instagram, and find my music on most major streaming services. And hey, if you really want to be a part of my team, you can even become a Patron over at Patreon.com/dennisjernigan. I'd love to have you on board! 

 The book “Captured” is available at Amazon in paperback, ebook, and audiobook formats. I encourage you to read the book “Captured” and then listen to or download the songs inspired by each of the main characters for FREE. Just go to https://www.thechroniclesofbren.com/store/captured-songs-for-the-journey-album/ and download the entire collection for FREE.

 Thanks again for being part of today's podcast. Remember, God loves you, and so do I. Now, I challenge you to rise up and be the warrior for the kingdom God has called to to be today. And I urge you to put off the lies of the enemy and put on the truth of who the Lord says you are and then go and BE who your Heavenly Father says you are…

Jidgel! Jidjel!

Verse 
Man of the swamp
Man of the fen
Man of the water and reed
Man of his word
Man among men
Meeter of shelter and need

Chorus
Jidgel! Jidjel!
Curmudgeon short and stout
Jidgel! Jidjel!
What is life about?
Lack-it-y loo!
Didgeridoo!
Tell me what life is about to you
Lolly-go-lie!
Lolly-go-loo!
Show me the way to get through

Verse 
Eater of fish
Drinker of wine
Shorter than average men
Taller in heart
Taller in mind
Defender of Truth, you’re his friend

Chorus
Jidgel! Jidjel!
Curmudgeon short and stout
Jidgel! Jidjel!
What is life about?
Lack-it-y loo!
Didgeridoo!
Tell me what life is about to you
Lolly-go-lie!
Lolly-go-loo!
Show me the way to get through

Bridge
I can go around 
But I’d rather go through
I think that’s what you would do
Tell me what I know 
That I know to be true
Show me the way to get through

Chorus
Jidgel! Jidjel!
Curmudgeon short and stout
Jidgel! Jidjel!
What is life about?
Lack-it-y loo!
Didgeridoo!
Tell me what life is about to you
Lolly-go-lie!
Lolly-go-loo!
Show me the way to get through
Show me the way to get through
Show me the way to get through