Prism Peace

It had been one of those days at work where no matter how hard you tried, you got yelled at for something you knew nothing about but somehow the buck stopped at your plate. In fact, the whole week had been rather like that. Maybe its me being extra reactive because I am concerned about my Father.

Maybe I have been away too long and things have veered enough off course that everything is a bit off kilter. All I know for sure is that I am done being gracious and understanding, done cajoling and wheedling and giving the benefit of the doubt. You yell at me and I will be hard core letter of the law. No grace.

I realized I was out of control in the afternoon when someone asked me a simple question and I started defending my action vigorously. She looked at me in surprise and said, "It was just a simple question!" (ie, pull in your claws!). Whoops. Wrong mode. I went to my office to ask God's forgiveness and help in getting back to my normal self. I was determined not to let the overbearing rudeness of the few affect my interactions with the many.

I was glad I had made plans to attend a choral concert at Houghton College in the evening. There is nothing as soothing and calming as sweet vocal music. And for a bonus, I was going with a friend. Still, it is difficult to ratchet down from being offended. You somehow feel the need for someone to hear your plight and agree that you have been wronged and deserve restitution from the injuries suffered at the hands of some barbarian. I'm afraid I chewed my friend's ear off with my tale of woe, though it did help to hear her say "Fire the clod!"

We arrived on the Houghton campus where we discovered beautiful lumieres scattered liberally about the place. Every building had three or four on each step. The administration building had them in every window. The library was equally as lighted. The white light transformed the snowless grounds into a winter wonderland, setting a perfect stage for the concert. We perused the art gallery while waiting for the doors to open, then found our seats, marvelling at the huge quilts covering the chapel windows, quilts that spelled out JOY. And then the music began.

What an amazing collection of world musics and art from every imaginable corner of the world Shri Lanka to Korea to Brazil, performed by every ensemble and artist in the school. The pictures projected behind the performers had been carefully selected to augment the theme of the evening which was Joy to the World, the Lord has come. We were wrapped in music - from all three balconies, from in front of us, from behind us, moving around us, from the foyer. Instruments ranged from harp and shakahashi flute to acoustic guitar, drums, orchestra and a Capella voice.

Sound swirled, ebbed, flowed, softened, boldened, reverberated, whispered the good news that all the world celebrates the Christ child, not just us. How wonderful it was! We could not help ourselves as the concert was concluding with Joy to the World, a wonderful arrangement by one of their professors, Dr. Hijleh. The auditorium was plunged in total darkness. Suddenly, a sound. A single light. Then the sound spread as did the light, growing and growing until we were caught up in the excitement, in the beauty, in the pure joy of candles and drums and trumpets and all singers and performers and audience joining together in celebration of Christ. We rose to our feet, singing, uplifted.

All thoughts of bad days and stressful events and rotten summers slid away. We stood in the healing light of Christ, laying it all at his feet, enveloped in his love, his care, his provision. Yes, it will be alright. I needed that - the reminder of God's love. I already want to go again next year. This prism concert is good medicine!