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Where in our hell is Easter?…
Skip this if you’re not up for a downer!
I’m struggling to make spiritual sense of the horrific, inhumane world-wide conflicts that numb us with the news broadcasts, headlines and podcasts which confront us each and every day. I 'get' that we’re in the midst of a reflective season with an approaching Holy Week which in so many ways mirrors the reality of our lives in this time. The problem is — let’s face it — we all know that however much we may "pray for peace" as part of our Lenten journey, there’s no magic power which is going to solve it all at 12:01 AM on March 31.
We also know that we are an Easter people who try to sing what we believe and for our hopes. So what do we sing this year? Maundy Thursday, Good Friday and Saturday’s Easter Vigil are all pretty easy to figure out. But "hosannas", a parade of palm wavers, sunrise celebrations, Easter bells and "hallelujahs"?
I know, I know… what right do I have to share this darkness as we approach the very liturgical core of our faith? Talk about preaching to the choir! After all, I’m only a musician.
So, after giving it a lot of thought, I think what I’ll do is settle for carrying on with what Fred Kaan used to suggest when he was in a situation where he couldn’t connect with what was being sung. He sang the very words that seemed an ill fit in his 'outside voice' while making what he referred to as "back of the head" translations in his 'inside voice'.
That actually sounds quite sensible to me. While some might see that ’solution’ as being hypocritical, my inside voice, back-of-the-head translation will focus on discovering hope for my global sisters and brothers in everything I sing on the 31st.
I hope it works. RK
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