Reflection from Lisa Breger on her evening of Music & Poetry

The 13th Century Persian Poet Jalal-al-Din Rumi profoundly wrote that “The wound is the place where the light enters you.” How fortunate I feel, among the daily global catastrophes, that

people came out on a cold January night in the spirit of celebration for an evening of music and poetry. I was moved by those who had never attended a poetry event before and by the people I didn’t know who later left as friends. Even those livestreaming from across the country could feel the joy in the sanctuary that night. In a recent blog on Contemplative ageing, author Judith Valente wrote,

“people who had been sitting in the church pews spontaneously got up from their seats and started to dance in the aisles to Harmony Grove’s rousing rendition of We Are Family. My husband who had been watching the livestream with me got up and asked me to dance in our dining room. And so we did. It was a moment of unadulterated fun after another tough news week in our country.”

When I first conjured up this event, in my mind it was a way to give back to all who have touched my life with their love, support, and encouragement over the years, a thank you gift that would be open to everyone. What I received back was so much more; when we come together, add our light to the sum of all light, the darkness dissipates for a moment and we can see our way together in the warm glow of community.