Street Singing

When I first moved into the city I was constantly amazed by how many people in my neighborhood would just sing at the top of their lungs while walking up and down the streets. This phenomenon happens regardless of what time it is; although, the sobriety of the singers is called into question late at night. Not all of them are the greatest singers in the world (in fact, none of them are). But, regardless, there is a lot of singing in Hyde Park!

I had to go to Chase Bank today to fight for my rights against The Man. I felt very righteous in my complaints and was on a crusade to get what I thought (and still think) I deserved!

The soundtrack playing in my head was the Finale of Les Miserables! This is the perfect song to march to on your crusade against The Man:

"do you hear the people sing?

lost in the valley of the night

it is the music of a people who are climbing to the light

for the wretched of the earth

there is a flame that never dies

even the darkest nights will end and the sun will rise

they will live again in freedom in the garden of the lord

they will walk behind the bloodshed

they will put away the sword

the chain will be broken and all men will have their reward!

will you join in our crusade?

who will be strong and stand with me?

somewhere beyond the barricade is there a world you long to see?

do you hear the people sing?

say, do you hear the distant drums?

it is the future that they bring when tomorrow comes!"

So long story short... I lost in my crusade against Chase Bank. After catching the salesboy (nicest thing I can call him) trying to pull the wool over my eyes several times... I caved. Instead of walking out with my financial freedom... I carried out a new credit card (which I had no intention of getting, nor any intention of using now) with a ridiculous interest rate and a whole host of new aggravating problems.

Walking home, the soundtrack playing in my head was "Walk in the Reign" by Josh Blakesley. Showtunes give me courage... religious music lifts my spirits after an attack by The Man. The song goes:

"Walk in the Reign...

Showers of Love, Fall from Above...

Walk in the Reign...

oooOOOooo!"

And now the point of this story...

These sound tracks hadn't just been playing in my head. I was singing them out loud! I didn't realize it at first, I just needed the music more than I cared what the other people on the street were thinking.

What does one do when he finds that he is making a fool of himself? Obviously, he has to continue or people will judge his lack of confidence. I continued to sing.

There is something liberating about singing in public. I, like everyone else who sings in Hyde Park, have a terrible singing voice. I am sure that some people were annoyed; but they would have been annoyed anyway.

Maybe as Christians we should sing more often when we are out in public. Could there be a better way to testify to the change that has occurred in us due to God's presence in our lives?

I have to commute to class at Loyola University tonight... I am going to sing on the bus.

Peace turtles!