I'll be honest. Some Sundays I sit down to write this weekly blog entry and discouragement fills my soul. There really isn't a lot of Tabernacle Choir news to talk about. There are no songs we're currently singing that I can give my thoughts on. And at a time of year when the choir is normally extremely busy preparing for the annual Christmas Concert, we currently aren't busy in the slightest. Speaking of the Christmas Concert, just today I was at a family dinner and my sister-in-law told us of an event we were invited to on Dec 12th. So I got out my phone to add the event and lo and behold, there was an entry I must have missed deleting months ago when we were told there'd be more Choir events for the year: "TabChoir Christmas Concert".
It was sort of a sobering moment.
I think out of all of the missed Choir events this year, missing the Christmas Concert will be the most painful. For me, performing in the Christmas concert and singing such beautiful Christmas music really added a special spirit to the overall Christmas holiday each year. To find an adequate replacement for that will be challenging.
That all said, I'm going to adopt the attitude of looking for the good in situations since as a family, our goal was to look for three good things at church today (this exercise was, in large part, for my own benefit since masks and social distancing makes it hard to enjoy church these days).
So. Three good things about not being able to sing with the Tabernacle Choir for eight months now.
Hmm.
1) More family time. And especially having more family time during November and December when the holidays seem to make things a little crazy.
2) Appreciation. Appreciation for the social, musical, and spiritual dimensions that were added to my life when fulfilling my musical calling.
3) Friendship reset. Recognizing the friends most interested in staying in touch.
To end with today, I leave you with a favorite quote about music.
Where words fail, music speaks. (Hans Christian Anderson)
Until next time, God be with you.
Dear Ryan, I'm sure that you are struggling with the fact that you are unable to sing in the choir. Though I don't trivialize your feelings, please may I add that I'm a widow, I'm not able to see my children and grandchildren because they have emigrated though I do have one son at home with me. I don't have any friends who visit, even church "friends" don't come around, I'm not always welcome at other's homes. So enjoy what time you have with your wife and children, with your friends, the holidays and Christmas time, friendships. It's going to be a very lonely Christmas for me. Wishing you joy in your journey.
ReplyDeleteI appreciate your comment and am sad that the upcoming holiday season will be a lonely time for you. In telling me all that you did, you've helped me feel much more grateful for what I do have and I thank you for that. It's what I needed right now. My sincere hope is that you feel loved at this time and more people who know you will communicate that love during this hard time. Take care--and thank you for being a fan of the Choir.
Delete