POST 45: "Harmony"
”We have been created to love and to be loved.” Mother Teresa
As I look back, the music of Barry Manilow entered my life, the Fan Club entered my life, just as meeting Mother T. entered my life at just the right time. They shaped the yearnings of my heart to create a song that God placed in my soul. The song I sing is a song in part of deep pain, because a part of me was destroyed. I can write now, because now I can show you the scars without fear, just like Jesus did for his disciple Thomas. Resurrection means exactly that. What was dead can come back to life. So this is also a song of triumph and encouragement.
I share that song now because it came back to me when the music of Barry Manilow came back into my life in April of 2015.
Now, I know I am speaking like a Christian. I can't erase that part of me. However, I hope fundamentally enough of what I say is like one human being to other human beings who have suffered, or who are suffering, and maybe need a badass angel in their life. Maybe I can do that. Because now I am getting a voice back. I am finding my song. Lock and load, baby.
So here is one song that I have started to sing.
Songs that my teachers have coaxed out of me.
Songs that my family has loved to life in me.
Songs that all whom I have been privileged to know on this amazing journey of ministry have heard in me and have sung back to me until I was brave enough to give voice. It’s based on the sermon I should have written on that day I got led back to Barry's music.
This is about Jesus, showing Thomas his wounded hands.
Jesus & Thomas (John 20:24-28)
Here see my wounds, you say to me
With no shame
Feel them
Touch them
Stick your finger in this hole-pierced hand
The skin is warm, jagged
It reminds me of my heart
Of the holes no one sees but you
And I show you too
the repeated soul piercings
Many wounds fashioned before words
You feel them
Touch them
and I see
The wounds remain
But now there is no shame.
But hope.
Our stories deserve to be remembered, to be put back together. Piece by piece. Bit by bit. Line by line. Until the song is complete. Remembering is the only way we can become whole. That’s why we listen to songs. That why I listened to Barry’s songs over and over. That’s why we’re called to read our scriptures. Or whatever stories or movies resonate with us.
They connect to our stories. Repeatedly. Until they sink into our bones and weave into our DNA. Repetition is the road to remembering. There are stories and songs that deserve to be re-read and re-read. They reveal to us over time multiple layers of meaning and shifts in perspective. Listening is the only way to get to where we need to be. A place where all voices are heard. No voice silenced. All songs are sung. All stories are told.
I sometimes wonder what else Mother T. said that morning after I blanked out. Perhaps it really is not important. I heard the most important thing: You begin with prayer. So I am glad I did not hear the rest. This way, I learned to pray in many ways, in creative ways I would not have learned had I heard her answer. So I learned to pray:
By drawing
By crying
In listening
In silence
When necessary, by using words
Through prayer I learned to believe what Mother T. taught about holiness, “Holiness does not consist in doing extraordinary things. It consists in accepting with a smile, what Jesus sends us. It consists in accepting and following the will of God.”
I believe holiness is something we are all called to, not just a few lucky schmucks. Not a “can you levitate three feet off the ground” holiness. Not a “does your shit smell like tulips” holiness. Not “are you bible jeopardy champion” holiness.
Holiness I have come to realize is a personal spiritual authenticity. Because if we are true to whom God created us to be, which is in God’s image by the way – so the deal is rigged – we will want to do what is right. We will want to live in a right way.
We will want to develop our talents and use them to the best of our ability. We will want to help others.
We will forever search for that unique song in our hearts, a song that will always lead us to our joy.
A song that leads us to each other. That will lead us to a holy/ a whole life.
A Song that will keep us in harmony with the human family.
Notes:
http://www.wright-house.com/religions/christianity/mother-teresa.html
http://www.goodreads.com/quotes/203154-holiness-does-not-consist-in-doing-extraordinary-things-it-consistsng,
Give the gift of music to the next generation through donations to:
The Manilow Music Project
8295 South La Cienega Boulevard
Inglewood, CA 90301
info@manilowmusicproject.org
As I look back, the music of Barry Manilow entered my life, the Fan Club entered my life, just as meeting Mother T. entered my life at just the right time. They shaped the yearnings of my heart to create a song that God placed in my soul. The song I sing is a song in part of deep pain, because a part of me was destroyed. I can write now, because now I can show you the scars without fear, just like Jesus did for his disciple Thomas. Resurrection means exactly that. What was dead can come back to life. So this is also a song of triumph and encouragement.
I share that song now because it came back to me when the music of Barry Manilow came back into my life in April of 2015.
Now, I know I am speaking like a Christian. I can't erase that part of me. However, I hope fundamentally enough of what I say is like one human being to other human beings who have suffered, or who are suffering, and maybe need a badass angel in their life. Maybe I can do that. Because now I am getting a voice back. I am finding my song. Lock and load, baby.
So here is one song that I have started to sing.
Songs that my teachers have coaxed out of me.
Songs that my family has loved to life in me.
Songs that all whom I have been privileged to know on this amazing journey of ministry have heard in me and have sung back to me until I was brave enough to give voice. It’s based on the sermon I should have written on that day I got led back to Barry's music.
This is about Jesus, showing Thomas his wounded hands.
Jesus & Thomas (John 20:24-28)
Here see my wounds, you say to me
With no shame
Feel them
Touch them
Stick your finger in this hole-pierced hand
The skin is warm, jagged
It reminds me of my heart
Of the holes no one sees but you
And I show you too
the repeated soul piercings
Many wounds fashioned before words
You feel them
Touch them
and I see
The wounds remain
But now there is no shame.
But hope.
Our stories deserve to be remembered, to be put back together. Piece by piece. Bit by bit. Line by line. Until the song is complete. Remembering is the only way we can become whole. That’s why we listen to songs. That why I listened to Barry’s songs over and over. That’s why we’re called to read our scriptures. Or whatever stories or movies resonate with us.
They connect to our stories. Repeatedly. Until they sink into our bones and weave into our DNA. Repetition is the road to remembering. There are stories and songs that deserve to be re-read and re-read. They reveal to us over time multiple layers of meaning and shifts in perspective. Listening is the only way to get to where we need to be. A place where all voices are heard. No voice silenced. All songs are sung. All stories are told.
I sometimes wonder what else Mother T. said that morning after I blanked out. Perhaps it really is not important. I heard the most important thing: You begin with prayer. So I am glad I did not hear the rest. This way, I learned to pray in many ways, in creative ways I would not have learned had I heard her answer. So I learned to pray:
By drawing
By crying
In listening
In silence
When necessary, by using words
Through prayer I learned to believe what Mother T. taught about holiness, “Holiness does not consist in doing extraordinary things. It consists in accepting with a smile, what Jesus sends us. It consists in accepting and following the will of God.”
I believe holiness is something we are all called to, not just a few lucky schmucks. Not a “can you levitate three feet off the ground” holiness. Not a “does your shit smell like tulips” holiness. Not “are you bible jeopardy champion” holiness.
Holiness I have come to realize is a personal spiritual authenticity. Because if we are true to whom God created us to be, which is in God’s image by the way – so the deal is rigged – we will want to do what is right. We will want to live in a right way.
We will want to develop our talents and use them to the best of our ability. We will want to help others.
We will forever search for that unique song in our hearts, a song that will always lead us to our joy.
A song that leads us to each other. That will lead us to a holy/ a whole life.
A Song that will keep us in harmony with the human family.
Notes:
http://www.wright-house.com/religions/christianity/mother-teresa.html
http://www.goodreads.com/quotes/203154-holiness-does-not-consist-in-doing-extraordinary-things-it-consistsng,
Give the gift of music to the next generation through donations to:
The Manilow Music Project
8295 South La Cienega Boulevard
Inglewood, CA 90301
info@manilowmusicproject.org