Sunday, June 26, 2005

Catch the Beat!

I was ready to relax and enjoy myself at the Minnesota Conference Annual Meeting (UCC) a few weeks ago after I had preached at the Saturday evening worship service. On Friday night I had told a couple people that I was going to want a beer after the experience of preaching to that auspicious gathering! The College of St. Benedict, where our meetings are held, has a pub and an ice cold beer was waiting for me, along with friends to celebrate the honor and the accomplishment with me.

When we were leaving the pub, my colleague & friend, Jill, could hear that the drum circle was still going on downstairs. So we joined them! This was a first for me and I was hooked immediately! I sat down, picked up a drum and began to feel the rhythm. It was better than meditation! I could experiment or settle into a repetition or just go with the flow. My mind emptied itself of all the junk... stress... clutter... I was catching the beat! And I was hooked! Wouldn't it be wonderful to get drums for Faith United for Sunday worship services?!

Saturday next, found Rowland and me riding the twists and turns of the road to Ely - with the top down, of course! After lunch, we found our way to Music Outfitters where I was adopted by a djembe drum! I had no choice! It told me it was the drum for me!


sagemandrums_1845_2170347.gif

And you know what? You can't be in the presence of a drum without touching it -- drumming your fingers on it, tapping it, encouraging it to make its deep, rich, booming sounds! Drumming as a form of meditation. It's a new concept! A new activity. A summer project.

I'm eagerly awaiting the formation of a local coummunity drum circle!
"Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth." (Psalm 100:1)

No comments: