117/365 Bev and Arizona

Our entrance song was half in Spanish, half in English.

Our communion song dealt with themes of basic Christian values and how we are Christ to each other.

By the end, as I was watering plants, I wondered, did these two choices have anything to do with the new Arizona law?

I asked Bev, our music director, who shook her head ruefully. "No, they were chosen long before that law was passed. So it must have been the Holy Spirit."

Must have.

Then she said the only good thing about the law? It makes our state seem not as bad for a change.

168/365 Hallelujah

Baby I've been here before
I know this room, I've walked this floor
I used to live alone before I knew you
I've seen your flag on the marble arch
love is not a victory march
it's a cold and it's a broken Hallelujah

Why did he live alone before he knew you?

Well, it's just really something in the song. I guess he's just saying he knows what it's like to be alone.

But alleluia is a song of praise. Why come it's a broken alleluia?

It's hard to explain, honey. It's just, really, I guess it's just hard to sing praise sometimes.

But why? Why would it be cold?

Sophia, it's really just a grown up song. It's hard to explain.

Then why is it on a kids movie?

Now, that is a question I have too. I don't really know, though.

I just don't think an alleluia can ever be broken.

You're right.

264/365 Irish Dancers

327/365 Advent Concert

The Advent concert was last night. I usually like the Advent concert. This one, however, seemed jumbled up, like we were trying to do too many things with it. Is it a concert, or is it a prayer service, or is it O Antiphons or is it Our Lady of Guadalupe. I left glad for the break from other things but really, my mind never engaged.

There is too much right now.

And to tell you the truth, I could just sit and listen to shape note singing for an hour and feel lifted up in a way that just didn't happen.

341/365 You do a lot of singing

"What is up with your church?" my brother asks as we walk into our parents' house for post-Christmas-Eve-mass-presents-and-hoo-ha.

"What do you mean?" I take off my coat and slip my shoes of.

"All the singing. Man, you guys like to sing."