Today we celebrated All Saints Day in church. For those not familiar with the term, it is a time of remembering the 'saints' that have passed on but were instrumental in our lives while on earth. The term 'saints' is used because in my religious tradition, we strive towards perfection in our lives - possibly an unobtainable goal while in our earthly form, but a goal non-the-less.
But each one of these saints that we remember, was just a person. A less than perfect person. More than likely a 'sinner'. A mess of a person at times. But a mess that just might have blessed us at some point. And sometimes it is because of the mess that we were blessed.
In our congregation, we read through the names of our members that have passed away during this year. After each name is read, a bell is tolled. But not just any bell, our bell choir members stand in the outside aisles so we are surrounding the congregation and each ring one of the 'black key notes', in effect, making a melody out of a pentatonic scale. One of the wonderful things about the pentatonic scale is that the harmonies are all very 'natural' and sound good together, no matter which notes are played. So as each name is read, a different bell begins ringing with its own tempo and rhythmic pattern and continues ringing while the remaining names are read. There is no director. There are no set patterns. Even the octave placements are completely random. It could be quite a mess. But it is the most glorious, thrilling conglomeration of musical tones that you will ever be blessed to hear!
Each one of these saints/sinners had a unique life with a unique sound and message. At times their lives might have intertwined, but each remained unique. What a mess, but what a blessing to have known them and shared their experiences.
But each one of these saints that we remember, was just a person. A less than perfect person. More than likely a 'sinner'. A mess of a person at times. But a mess that just might have blessed us at some point. And sometimes it is because of the mess that we were blessed.
In our congregation, we read through the names of our members that have passed away during this year. After each name is read, a bell is tolled. But not just any bell, our bell choir members stand in the outside aisles so we are surrounding the congregation and each ring one of the 'black key notes', in effect, making a melody out of a pentatonic scale. One of the wonderful things about the pentatonic scale is that the harmonies are all very 'natural' and sound good together, no matter which notes are played. So as each name is read, a different bell begins ringing with its own tempo and rhythmic pattern and continues ringing while the remaining names are read. There is no director. There are no set patterns. Even the octave placements are completely random. It could be quite a mess. But it is the most glorious, thrilling conglomeration of musical tones that you will ever be blessed to hear!
Each one of these saints/sinners had a unique life with a unique sound and message. At times their lives might have intertwined, but each remained unique. What a mess, but what a blessing to have known them and shared their experiences.
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