No. this is not going to be a post about the romantic comedy starring Hugh Grant and Drew Barrymore. Though I'm sure that was a decent movie. Actually this is about something amazing that happened last night.
One of God's gifts to mankind is music. It has the power to bring happiness to an environment, and it can coax people into looking deep inside themselves. It can bring a smile to the face of people passing by, and it can bring people from otherwise different cultures and races together.
I discovered all this and more volunteering at Drug ARM last night. EM, one of the volunteer girls brought a guitar (which she actually can't play) with her. RI, the social worker (and accomplished classical guitarist) on duty that night agreed to bring it along, if things were quiet on the Van. And as we drove to Northbridge, we sang and made music. Our moods lifted, which was really needed because some of us just had had a tough week, and some nights on the Van are draining - emotionally and physically.
Its funny. All we had was a cheap beginner's guitar with plastic strings, and a couple of voices. But people came to the Van last night, and though they came in with their troubles, their tough experiences, their problems, and their pain. though we came in personally burdened (we're human after all)... somehow music lifted the mood. there were broad smiles on normally frowning faces. Gruff voices sang classic songs loud and clear in that concrete amphitheater. "Wonderwall" was performed twice by a street choir - the only song everyone knew the words to.
For a moment I forgot my tiredness. For a moment I forgot all the things that often intrude unpleasantly on your consciousness - the urgent assignment not completed, the early morning and full day ahead, the responsibility of ministry. well "forgot" is probably the wrong word to use. Music isn't all about escapism. But it can help us to rediscover our heart.
i know music touched people last night. and i was so glad to be a part of it. Some people later that night told me that being part of a disparate group of people singing "wonderwall" to someone on the other end of a phone call made their night. but they made mine =)
On that vaguely hippie-ish note, I'll leave it here for now. Got to finish that assignment after all
One of God's gifts to mankind is music. It has the power to bring happiness to an environment, and it can coax people into looking deep inside themselves. It can bring a smile to the face of people passing by, and it can bring people from otherwise different cultures and races together.
I discovered all this and more volunteering at Drug ARM last night. EM, one of the volunteer girls brought a guitar (which she actually can't play) with her. RI, the social worker (and accomplished classical guitarist) on duty that night agreed to bring it along, if things were quiet on the Van. And as we drove to Northbridge, we sang and made music. Our moods lifted, which was really needed because some of us just had had a tough week, and some nights on the Van are draining - emotionally and physically.
Its funny. All we had was a cheap beginner's guitar with plastic strings, and a couple of voices. But people came to the Van last night, and though they came in with their troubles, their tough experiences, their problems, and their pain. though we came in personally burdened (we're human after all)... somehow music lifted the mood. there were broad smiles on normally frowning faces. Gruff voices sang classic songs loud and clear in that concrete amphitheater. "Wonderwall" was performed twice by a street choir - the only song everyone knew the words to.
For a moment I forgot my tiredness. For a moment I forgot all the things that often intrude unpleasantly on your consciousness - the urgent assignment not completed, the early morning and full day ahead, the responsibility of ministry. well "forgot" is probably the wrong word to use. Music isn't all about escapism. But it can help us to rediscover our heart.
i know music touched people last night. and i was so glad to be a part of it. Some people later that night told me that being part of a disparate group of people singing "wonderwall" to someone on the other end of a phone call made their night. but they made mine =)
On that vaguely hippie-ish note, I'll leave it here for now. Got to finish that assignment after all
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