In celebration of old friends and singing
On New Year’s Eve I was able to reconnect with my friend Bo, whose home represents community gathered around music. On the day we met, at a softball game almost twenty years ago, we quickly found out that we both enjoyed playing music. Over the next fifteen years our friendship included parenting, working together, and many music sessions.
At the time, among our group of friends, there were regular music parties. Usually there were several people with guitars, a few with other instruments, and many singers. Some people crafted song sheets to facilitate the music. Bo took this to a new level by printing a book of songs. And his place was the best for music parties because he was the best song leader, switching from guitar to mandolin to piano.
Years of COVID and my move from Ohio to Michigan meant that I hadn’t seen Bo for more than a year and hadn’t been to a music party for years. New Year’s Eve last week gave me that chance. Bo’s wife Linda welcomed me with home-made soup and hot cider; other friends from my years living in this community welcomed me back. And then we went to the living room to sing. Bo’s songbook has been revised and is bigger than ever. We sang Paul Simon, the Beatles, Nanci Griffith and Jackson Browne. The harmonies were as satisfying as ever, and the feeling of being among friends was priceless.
Holidays are a time for being with loved ones, connecting to past joys, and creating new experiences. My New Year’s Eve allowed me to celebrate the joys of long-time friends and of singing. I return from a week of vacation refreshed and ready for the new year. I hope that everyone reading this was able to find peace and joy in the holidays of December. May 2023 bring good health and community connections to everyone.
PRAYER:
Spirit of Music, divine muse of harmony and creativity and living beauty, be here now. May beauty bless every human being. May we all sense that we are part of a greater music—the music of life itself, with all creatures singing in one great chorus.
Amen.
Rev. Andrew Frantz
On New Year’s Eve I was able to reconnect with my friend Bo, whose home represents community gathered around music. On the day we met, at a softball game almost twenty years ago, we quickly found out that we both enjoyed playing music. Over the next fifteen years our friendship included parenting, working together, and many music sessions.
At the time, among our group of friends, there were regular music parties. Usually there were several people with guitars, a few with other instruments, and many singers. Some people crafted song sheets to facilitate the music. Bo took this to a new level by printing a book of songs. And his place was the best for music parties because he was the best song leader, switching from guitar to mandolin to piano.
Years of COVID and my move from Ohio to Michigan meant that I hadn’t seen Bo for more than a year and hadn’t been to a music party for years. New Year’s Eve last week gave me that chance. Bo’s wife Linda welcomed me with home-made soup and hot cider; other friends from my years living in this community welcomed me back. And then we went to the living room to sing. Bo’s songbook has been revised and is bigger than ever. We sang Paul Simon, the Beatles, Nanci Griffith and Jackson Browne. The harmonies were as satisfying as ever, and the feeling of being among friends was priceless.
Holidays are a time for being with loved ones, connecting to past joys, and creating new experiences. My New Year’s Eve allowed me to celebrate the joys of long-time friends and of singing. I return from a week of vacation refreshed and ready for the new year. I hope that everyone reading this was able to find peace and joy in the holidays of December. May 2023 bring good health and community connections to everyone.
PRAYER:
Spirit of Music, divine muse of harmony and creativity and living beauty, be here now. May beauty bless every human being. May we all sense that we are part of a greater music—the music of life itself, with all creatures singing in one great chorus.
Amen.
Rev. Andrew Frantz
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