Day 340 Song for Unity

November 14, 2015

(If we live with an open and grateful attitude, every day will bring a gift. This is one of 365 gifts during the year I turned 70.)

Song for Unity

This afternoon, I spent two hours with a group of creative, positive people who emanate light and love. The catalyst for this bright gathering was a dark place in Baltimore history—the death of Freddie Gray while in police custody. A series of previous nationwide injustices had turned up the flame. In April, anger and hatred boiled over into destructive words and actions in Baltimore, a “them” versus “us” –an ugly spin on diversity. 

Darkness cannot drive out darkness: only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate: only love can do that.” ~ Martin Luther King, Jr.

What can one person do to change things? History shows us that small grows into big. Ugly grows uglier and beauty grows more beautiful. Recognizing that positive seeds are important, Baltimore musician Sahffi Lynne set out to create a microcosm of unity among a diverse group of musicians. She wanted to show unity on a small scale and to convey that this seed can grow into something good. Thus began the Song for Unity, written and performed with hope.

Singing is not my strength but I volunteered to document the process through photography. I watched a song-writing session evolve into words and tunes as a group of more than a dozen people came together to share and create. Today I photographed a practice session and heard the beauty of the blended sounds of musicians from all backgrounds. 

I am grateful to be a part of this project.

My gift today is hearing the beauty of blending. 

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> Day 341 Reverence

You can find links to my other posts on this project here:
http://bjschupp.blogspot.com/2014/12/365-gifts.html