Track 1 | or | Track 2 |
| Exodus 17:1-7 | Ezekiel 18:1-4, 25-32 | |
| Psalm 78:1-4, 12-16 | Psalm 25: 1-8 | |
| Philippians 2:1-13 | Philippians 2:1-13 | |
| Matthew 21:23-32 | Matthew 21:23-32 |
Hello Everybody!
I was reminded about the power of music in a yoga class last month. I was lucky enough to attend the Wanderlust yoga fest in Whistler, BC at the beginning of August. Whistler is stunning. Mountains everywhere, summer sunshine, stars, bears (!), lakes, and kind (VERY) people everywhere.
At some point during the week I started to feel kind of down.
A little out of it, I ended up by myself and a bit outside my little group. A few of them were heading up to the top of the mountain to take a class. Woe was me. I thought I'd skip it—go get a cup of coffee instead, and maybe go brood a little bit.
Something—someone—said "STOP FEELING SORRY FOR YOURSELF! GO TO THE MOUNTAINTOP! GET ON THAT CHAIR-LIFT!"
I listened.
After a breathtaking (unforgettable) 30+ minute chair-lift ride, I headed to the lodge at the mountaintop for class. Led by Giselle Mari, the class was entitled: Hot, Hip and Holy.
Oh my.
Giselle is very fun, enthusiastic and dynamic. I felt like we were in church. The church of motion, beauty, rhythm, grace and JOY! Church with a panoramic view of valleys, lakes and mountains. Ahhhh....
We danced and moved around like kids. We sang along with Jon Bon Jovi—"take my hand and we'll make it I swear...ooooooh-ohhhhhhh, livin' on a prayer..."
"Come on people—SING it together" shouted Giselle. "You all know this!!!"
We shook it ALL, we sweated, laughed and cried.
Giselle said, "ALL this music is sacred." Bon Jovi or Beyoncé...this is our sacred music. Along with Ave Maria and Om Namah Shivaya..."it's all sacred" she said. "This music is OUR realtime, present-day sacred mantra."
This beautiful woman was speaking my language! And it brought me to tears.
The song that really got to me (and many others) was at the end, Be Still and Know (see below). I've mentioned it here before.
"...if you forget the way to go, and you lose where you came from..."
Line after line of truth and beauty. And we sobbed. Air-sucking, chest heaving, noise-making sobs.
What am I trying to say here?
- Use ANY music that speaks to you and your spiritual community—whatever the genre. The sky's the limit!
- Don't be afraid to be and have FUN.
- Don't be afraid to cry.
- Find inspiration everywhere!
- AND, maybe most importantly, don't get too broody to take the chair-lift.
Be Still and Know by Isaac Slade (The Fray)
Teach Your Children by Graham Nash
Presence of the Lord by Eric Clapton
I'll Take You There by Al Bell
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