Even the Setting Sun...

I was driving home and the sun was setting at the far end of the road.  I tried to look to the right and left to avoid the blinding rays.  I noticed the cars around me also slowed down because the setting sun made it almost impossible to see what's coming up in front of you.  I was going to drop off some papers en route home at the escrow office and couldn't see the street address at all.  It took me two tries and some walking back to find the office because I was totally going blind and had to just guess if I was on the right block.  Once I got out of the car, I still couldn't see because I saw black dots in front of me and if you ever tried to look straight at the sun, you would know how that was.

I thought about Jesus being THE sun.  Even the setting sun for a brief five minutes had such blinding effect on me, I cannot imagine how I would be when I face the real Sun, except the fact that He would be a benevolent Sun and he promised to bless, and not harm, me.

When I left the escrow company, the sun had completely set already and darkness had fallen.  I knew all in all that even as I couldn't see him now, for sure in the morning his will be the first light that awakens me.  And I either will find myself on this side, or on the other side of the world and I welcome the idea of both.

75th Bach Festival

Tomorrow is the concert.  This year the choral finale is sung by us again, a group of auditioned amateurs, and we will be singing Bach's Mass in B minor.

This morning everybody came for the dress rehearsal.  Everybody means soloists too.  

I had such a great time!! I love Bach and singing with a group of good musicians is the greatest pleasure.  I am in the first row of the 50-person choir and I can see the backs of the flutists, oboists, and bassoonists.  But what I really see is music, and not the shapes of their backs.  As their bodies move with the music, I feel so happy to be part of it.  I once read that it may be hard for musicians to believe they need God because in music you feel oneness with this "Something" bigger than you, and many musicians have tasted this worldly best version of feeling whole, they  think that IS the best, not knowing the best anyone can encounter in great music is only the second best, comparing to what God has promised as being one with Him.  But for this morning, I felt I was in heaven. 

When the organ helped build the Dona Nobis Pacem, I thought I was gone.  I felt like I had come out of the physical limitation of my body and I became shapeless.  This experience of abandonment delighted me greatly.  It fed me emotionally.  And it rained today.  I wanted to kneel down to give thanks.  Only a beautiful God can create beautiful things like Bach's music and rain and autumn leaves.

This is the first rain for Yoko and Marb.  They sat by the screen door side by side and lost themselves in the pitter-patter of rain.  I watched them watching rain, and whatever was on TV suddenly lost all it's power.  I turned off the TV and joined them.

Bach. Rain.  Today is a good day.