Sunday, May 20, 2012

My Continuing Spiritual "Home"

Next month I will arrive at the first anniversary of my relocating from Music City to the Queen City, Clarksville. (A few days afterward will mary one year since I was hired for my job at TSLA.) During this almost year-long stretch, I've failed to locate a C'ville church "home". And today I was reminded why the search has so far been fruitless. Today was Youth Sunday (and honor graduates day) at Eastwood Christian Church (Disciples) in East Nashville. So I made the long drive from the Queen City to Music City to attend Woship this morning. I'm so glad I made the effort to attend worship at a place I hadn't since the first Sunday of April! Even as I approached Eastwood driving my Saturn SL, I had a strong sence similar to "I'm coming home, approaching a place where I've experienced healing and unconditional love over and over!" And while the youth were leading us in worship in the sanctuary, over and over I was impressed that "THIS is still my spiritual 'home'!" What probably strengthened this sensation or impression is that I ventured to sing the Anthem with Eastwood's choir -- several members of whom expressed gladness at my presence. The song, "A Gaelic Grace", is based on a Celtic that bestows "deep peace" in various forms upon the recipient. The Bass vocal score had two parts, so I sang the "baritone". It wasn't an easy piece, but I felt that I did okay. And I sensed during and after the singing a "deep peace"! And then we observed the Lord's Supper, as we generally do (except on First Sundays when we observe in a different manner), taking the bread -- the Body -- in unison and then the cup -- the Blood -- in unison. Since I had recently read an on-line encyclopedia-style article about the Eucharist (or Lord's Supper) and how in Protestant circles, fellowship with Christ and with one another is an important theme of the ritual. And within just minutes the worship was concluded and we adjourned to the potluck fellowship meal upstairs in the Fellowship Hall. All of this was underscoring my deep love for and deep peace while among my sisters and brothers of Eastwood. Which brings me back to my dilemma. Do I keep seeking and seeking more diligently a church "home" in Clarksville? Or do I act on my strong impression that Eastwood is still my spiritual home and seek to attend there more frequently?

Sunday, May 6, 2012

Again "Listen to the Music" in Music City

A couple years ago I reported on this blog about how a certain hit song from my youth -- a "blast from the past" -- played over the p.a. system of the store in which I was shopping, and how immediately I contemplated what a perfect them song it would be for Nashville a.k.a. Music City USA. Well, shall we say it's time for same song second verse? Saturday, 5 May -- ¡Feliz Cinco de May, mis amigos! -- I worked the opening shift at the Tennessee State Library and Archives. After leaving TSLA I visited the central library at Vanderbilt and did some work on-line there. In a tip of the hat to the holiday (which is celebrated much more in these United States than in Mexico, where it's NOT their independence day) I decided to have a light supper of Mexican food. And being short on cash it had to be something less expensive than Chuy's or San Antonio Taco Co. There is a Taco Bell on West End Ave. very near the Vandy campus, so I went in there. As I was eating my burrito, wouldn't you know? The store's p.a. system, which was carrying pop rock music, began to broadcast the Doobie Brothers singing "Listen to the Music"! At once I limbered up my vocal cords and sang along. And again I considered how "Listen to the Music" is a perfect theme song for this city!