| My good friend Christine recently | | | | English to understand the meaning |
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| mentioned she had an extra ticket | | | | of:** "He's Blessing Me" |
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| to a gospel choir concert here in | | | | ** "O Happy Day" |
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| Buenos Aires. Would I like to join her?I | | | | ** "Bridge Over Troubled Water" |
| jumped at the chance to have a fun | | | | |
| | | | ** "Hold On" |
| night out with her AND get my blast | | | | |
| | | | ** "There Is A Quiet Place" |
| of hallelujahs. Besides, I wanted to | | | | |
| | | | ** "Oh, Doctor Jesus" |
| see what an Argentine gospel concert | | | | |
| | | | ** "Amazing Grace"Now, I was raised Mormon |
| crowd is like.We went. We grinned at each | | | | and danced |
| other | | | | |
| | | | my way through a variety of spiritual |
| when the crowd burst into exuberant | | | | |
| | | | perspectives right on through Buddhism. |
| applause after every single | | | | |
| | | | If I had to pick a religion t-shirt to wear |
| raise-the-roof solo performance by a | | | | |
| | | | for all the world to see, I guess it would |
| choir member. We clapped until our | | | | |
| | | | be the one with the Buddha on it. But |
| hands were swollen. We whooped | | | | |
| | | | on the night of the concert, it was Jesus |
| with unbridled joy.And then we watched with | | | | |
| jubilation | | | | all the way.O Happy Day!Music fills our |
| | | | souls, and it doesn't really |
| as the choir was encouraged-- | | | | |
| | | | matter what the brand might be. The |
| some might say coerced--by a | | | | |
| | | | Buddhist monks chanting? Very cool. |
| stomping, chanting, on-their-feet | | | | |
| | | | The gospel singers? Awesome. I have been |
| crowd to offer not one, not five, | | | | |
| | | | in temples and shrines and cathedrals |
| but EIGHT encore performances | | | | |
| | | | around the world, and there's something |
| following the initial bowing and | | | | |
| | | | profoundly inspiring about the religious |
| exiting.O Happy Day!It was a cross between a | | | | |
| revival and | | | | music that fills them--no matter what |
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| a futbol game. There's a certain chant | | | | label it happens to be wearing.The more open |
| | | | we are to what we hear |
| that sports fans do here--a wordless, | | | | |
| | | | and experience, the more likely we are |
| lilting open-mouthed melody. Everyone | | | | |
| | | | to tap (or is it clap?) into the joy it |
| was doing it while standing and clapping | | | | stirs |
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| with arms raised high.The crowd looked like | | | | in us. Paying attention to the ways we |
| any symphony | | | | |
| | | | can access our soul--or true nature, or |
| audience in Portland or Seattle--mostly | | | | |
| | | | whatever you want to call it--frees us |
| upper middle class but with plenty of | | | | |
| | | | to discover new sources of |
| students and a variety of nationalities. | | | | inspiration.Whether it's gospel, classical, |
| | | | blues, |
| We found it fascinating that the place | | | | |
| | | | or hip-hop, play with the possibilities |
| was absolutely packed for this relatively | | | | |
| | | | and surprise yourself by finding something |
| unknown gospel choir of African Americans | | | | |
| | | | inspiring about a musical form you've |
| singing traditional spirituals and "Porgy | | | | |
| | | | barely heard before. Find what makes |
| and Bess" selections--all in English, of | | | | |
| | | | you want to clap--even if it's not in your |
| course.But despite the cultural and language | | | | |
| | | | native language or tied to the church |
| barriers, this choir rocked the house, | | | | |
| | | | you attend on Sunday.Look for ways to get |
| moved that crowd, and made everyone | | | | those happy tears |
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| feel glad to be alive and blessed to | | | | flowing, and you'll be connected to |
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| be there together.O Happy Day!Just reading | | | | what matters most.O Happy Day!Maya Talisman |
| the titles of the songs | | | | Frost has taught thousands of people how to |
| | | | pay attention. Through her company, |
| in the program was a soul-stirring | | | | Real-World Mindfulness Training, she offers |
| | | | playful, eyes-wide-open alternatives to |
| experience. You don't need much | | | | meditation. |
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