Singing Along the Journey
Thoughts about faith and wholeness set to the soundtrack of life

Lenten Thoughts…

When I grew up, every morning, next to my school books, I would find a cup with my daily vitamin supplements and, next to that, a copy of Unity School of Religious Science's The Daily Word, turned to the page of that day's devotional.  And there was no leaving the house until I downed the vitamins and read aloud that day's word and prayer. So, imagine my joy when, at my new spiritual home, I was asked to write a devotional entry for our congregation-created Lenten devotional book.  Then, imagine joy turned to panic when I received my assignment -- the 10 Commandments themselves, in 250 words or less. As…
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Reminders…

[caption id="attachment_28" align="alignright" width="281" caption=""I am half-sick of shadows" said the Lady of Shallott; painting by J.W. Waterhouse, Art Gallery of Ontario"][/caption] The problem of being,  perhaps for the first time in your life, clearly aware of that sense of calling that surrounds us all, is that -- well, you may be even more confused than you were before.  Honestly, that is what has happened to me. At first, I thought -- sweeping change is in order.  Give up opera, focus on sacred music, work on musical outreach, maybe even consider switching from my DMA program to a seminary program, dare I say it -- seek ordination?  All of these…
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But, is it really art?

[caption id="attachment_13" align="alignright" width="300" caption="Marcel Duschamp's "Fresh Widow""][/caption] Not an original question, but one I have been asking a lot lately -- AGAIN. Someone very dear to me has been, for the last year and a half, in the gruelling process of qualifying to be a Docent at the National Gallery of Art  in Washington, D.C.  And I do mean gruelling -- day long classes most Saturdays for nine months, and then torcherous research to develop each specialized tour, and finally, the nerve-wracking process of  "qualifying" for each tour category -- Introduction to Western Art, East Building Tour (20th century art), and on and on. And so, because my friend…
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It’s only three chords…

That's what I kept telling myself as I crawled onto the bench of the tiny electric organ in the chapel at Thomas House a week ago Wednesday.   Not a digital piano with an organ setting, but a real, live  (well, mostly live) organ with pedals and stops and everything.  I was about to "stretch" myself and my musical skills, by playing an instrument for which I have no training, accompanying myself as I sang.  I was participating in my church's mission week series, EchoDC. So, I haven't played any instrument in public for over 20 years, except my voice, and I have probably never played and sang together where anyone…
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Greetings, fellow Traveller…

Well, I have finally succumbed.  For years, I have read the blogs of others (one of my particular favorites being  Talk with the Preacher ) and thought to myself, I could never do that...what would I say...who would care what I had to say? But lately,well, things have been changing.  And my own focus has changed, in ways, that I think, will become apparent as this blog develops and grows.  So, goodbye opera, and hello....well, we will see. In the mean time, I will listen to the urgings of my friends and my own deepest inner call, and share with whomever wishes to read, my thoughts on music, art, travel, and…
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