Music

A few nights ago we had a birthday party. It was highly attended by Venezuelans; we made about 16 in all. Many of them had just met that night. It was wonderful. It was neat to see a group with diverse backgrounds getting along, enjoying the night, joking around, and having a good time without any diversions except for themselves. We finally fell asleep at about 4, to promptly wake up at 8 and keep hanging out.

Some of them wanted to practice their English so we have a conversation in english about Venezuelan/latin music. I have not partaken of the plentiful and cheap pirated CD's available in all markets. Thus the party (being held at my house) was sadly without music, except for the extremely talented classical guitarist, the birthday boy's playings, and a few others trying their hand. But thankfully now I have a huge list of bands, styles and songs to find, and hopefully listen to. Call it cultural learning:)

One band the guitarist knew (and he was playing it on youtube independent of our discussion) was this couple called Rodrigo y Gabriela. If I could ever play 1/4 as good as them, I'd be estatic. Here's an amazing song:



Also on the topic of music, today I heard really good Christian music wafting in our window from the street. Now the "church" at the corner sometimes plays Christian music, but I'm not a fan. But this was filled with beautiful guitar, deep lyrics, and soothing melodies. But I was clueless as to who else would have it, so I figured they had been fortunate to run across some really good music. A few hours later found me across the street talking with the mother/grandmother Maria and her husband who was completely drunk. She gave me some cake she had made and then took me into their living room and began to play, shock!, that same wonderful music. She had just bought it she told me, and wanted me to listen to it. We sat in the living room as her husband sat there and talked with me, then at her, and back and forth. He was moved by it, asked if I or we, were part of the same group, referring to Jesus. We talked a bit more and after 4 songs he retired to take a nap. I sat there listening to the lyrics as Maria quietly sang along. "Llena me de tu amor" and a voice took up the harmony mid phrase. "That is really cool, that's how God works so many times. We ask for His love and at that moment, even before the question is finished, He speaks." She nodded her head in agreement. Songs came about God's love, about sacrificing all to follow Jesus, about suffering, about praise. I can't relate all the conversation, but it was rich. I felt like I was talking with a sister in Christ. I asked how she was feeling with her husband. She acknowledged it was hard when he drank, but also explained how ill he was with this flu/cold that's been hanging on him for over a month now. It causes him a lot of pain, and when he's not working, he drinks. He also has diabetes. They've been together for over 37 years now. He came back in, still talking up a storm, but he felt a bit better. Maria sauntered off to the bedroom/dining room/kitchen and her husband left to talk to his recently arrived brother. The CD ended and the silence was filled by the sound of the pouring rain and the river of mud, rocks and trash right out the door.

Lord, teach me how to listen to the music of your Spirit. Help me to know what to say, when to say it, and how to say it. May your presence be above over all my words and all my actions to bring your melody into this world.