The March of the Bluebirds, originally uploaded by candyknits.
I promised Belinda over at upsidedownbee that I would share my zendalas. I learned about them from her post, Praying With Art. When I saw the zendala and her magnificent doodle, I knew I had to do one too. She had already piqued my interest in the concept of using drawing to focus your mind in prayer in her post (I can't find it to link to it) about the book, Praying In Color . I purchased the book and played at it a little, but never really took off with it.
When I was a teenager, I had a lot of friends in my circle who were musicians. I mean good musicians. We spent a lot of time hanging out in the background during jam sessions. I miss that. Though I don't have an ounce of talent myself, I sure enjoy listening to others that do.
I have a friend in my current life who likes to go where folks are playing the blues, particularly guitar blues. I've had the pleasure to accompany him to a couple of concerts this year (I like the blues too). Back in January we heard the Derek Trucks Band in Charlotte. It was a great concert. We were treated to a surprise appearance by his wife, Susan Tedeshi, who belted out a few songs with the band. Derek is the nephew of drummer, Butch Trucks. He was a child prodigy who started sitting in with the "big guys" when he was 9. He toured with the Allman Bros and still plays with them. He formed the Derek Trucks Band when he was 15. Cool huh?
This past weekend we went to The Carolina Theater in Greensboro for the Guitar Blues Tour to hear Robben Ford with Jorma Kaukonen, and, my favorite, Ruthie Foster.
I have been to the Carolina Theater long days ago. The acoustics there are really good. Ruthie Foster has this rich, resonant voice and she really filled up the place. She was very personable on stage and talked to the audience like she was just hanging out and jamming. I really enjoyed her. Though her songs were all secular, you could tell she comes from gospel roots.
Bill Morrison collection, courtesy of The Shubert Archive.Lamb of God Born To Us
I attended the Christmas Cantata, AGNUS DEI, at my church tonight. Following is an excerpt from the front of the program.
Agnus Dei comes from two Latin words: agnus, meaning 'lamb' and dei, 'of God'. The traditional litany said or sung during Communion is:The music was beautiful. I was reminded of the greatness of God's love for me. It was a much needed moment of peace in the frenzy of activity that comes with Christmas and gave a lift to my spirit which tends to sink a bit during the Holidays.
Lamb of God who taketh away the sin of the world-
have mercy on us.
Lamb of God who taketh away the sin of the world-
grant us peace.
It is based on John 1:29, John the Baptist's salutation, "Look, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!"
In the history of God and man, two themes are juxtaposed: Man's sinfulness and God's triumph over it. The songbook of God's people is a liturgy of counterpoint: We fail, the future looks hopeless, but the Lord God Almighty reigns.
Nowhere have the two themes intersected more poignantly than at the moment the Lamb of God came into the world. Nowhere has there ever been sung a more glorious song than this: "Today is born for you, a Savior."
