Sunday, July 21, 2013

Streetside Serenades




Always sing in the most unusual of places, at the strangest of times.

     Cicadas, songs and kindred spirits have filled my summer months here in our little haven of Davidson - the glowing heat in day and night seems to bring the atmosphere alive with calm awareness of everything around us that grows.  Last night after enjoying wonderful food and conversation at an Arab restaurant with the Quaker community, I went with some special people to find adventure in “NoDa” (North Davidson), a lively neighborhood in Charlotte.   This adventure took the form of the four of us galavanting around the streets for a several hours; Gabe and Jordan climbing brick walls, climbing trees, skipping and imitating Irish accents while Anita and I trailed behind laughing hysterically.  We ended up under an overpass, so naturally the two guys decided we were going to climb up the side into the corner ledge.  And naturally, we started to sing.

“Way up there, you and I, you and I…”

We sat on our ledge under the bridge for an hour, singing whatever came to our minds and harmonizing on the fly.   Freedom is seen in wide sunlit fields, in the expanse of the sky...but it lives in small things, small corners, small smiles from friends with cement and cars overhead under the blanket of night.

“All your life, you were only waiting for this moment to arise….”

Earlier when we were leaving the restaurant, Gabe found tree sap on his car – his face lit up in its usual joyful way and he exclaimed “TREE SAP, YESSS.”  When we came upon an art student selling pottery on the street, he immediately made friends with her and asked all about her life, art and inspiration.  The last place he suggested we sing a few weeks ago was in a circle in front of the CVS pharmacy entrance.  I have yet to find a corner of life that doesn’t interest him, and I admire his spirit for discovering and adding excitement in every rising moment.

“I’ll fly away, oh glory, I’ll fly away in the morning…”

Jordan spent almost a year in the Middle East, and though I haven't known him long I love to see the light in his eyes and the way his mind flies into another plane of view when describing how to cook Arab food, speaking Arabic with our waiters at the restaurant, contemplating the mysteries of language, or simply showing us new songs on his phone that that he would love for us all to sing.  Not to mention he was an excellent driver of our imaginary Flintstones vehicle as we later strolled up to the drive through window of cookout on foot.

“And every breath we brew was hallelujah….”

Just hours earlier at dinner, Anita mentioned that the way she sees God in the heart and music of others.  We have spent many a summer day laughing and making music, and each note she sings blends with the air as if it had been there all along and is rejoicing in having finally been found.  She found the notes that live under bridges at night; her heart is as genuine as her smile, and I hear God in her voice. 

“Come with me, my love….to the sea, the sea of love…”

….Always sing in the most unusual of places, at the strangest of times.