Learning to Follow Jesus through Peter Mayer's Music

I find that I feel closer to God and can lean deeper into the teachings of Jesus through music. I grew up during Vatican II in the Catholic Church which opened up worship to the composition of folk songs for the Mass and "Guitar Masses," perfect for smaller churches and student campus missions with no organs. The movement wasn't welcomed by everyone, but I was in my happy place. I sang in several churches over the years, both Catholic and Episcopalian, and learned from the best-- The St. Louis Jesuits (more on them in an upcoming post), as well as my partners in our Music Missions.

Then I moved to the Unitarian Universalist denomination which does play its share of Christian music, but certainly not with the same regularity I was accumstomed to.

Then one Sunday in church, we sang "Blue Boat Home," by singer-songwriter Peter Mayer (not the guy who played for Jimmy Buffet; the musician from Stillwater, Minnesota). Mayer had set new words to a very familiar hymn tune composed by Rowland Hugh Pritchard in the mid-1800's. Mayer's words describe Earth as a ship sailing the ocean of the universe - a blue boat - with we humans as the crew and passengers on a wonderous journey. It has a smooth waltz cadence and uplifting images. 

Not long after, Mayer performed in concert at my church, and I was blown away. The one song that struck me deep in the heart was "God Is a River." I became an instant fan. I found a playlist of his songs on YouTube which I saved to my phone and started collecting every CD he's produced. 

As the Folk Mass movement had given wings to my spiritual path when I was younger, 40 years later, Peter Mayer 's music renewed my soul. His album "Midwinter" is a permanent part of my Solstice/Christmas celebrations.

So, a bit more about this extrodinary musician. He is a member of the Unitarian Universalist Church and many of his songs express a fresh approach to spirituality. His music and performances have garnered admiration for their spiritual depth and emotional resonance. His songs, "Holy Now" and "Blue Boat Home," are celebrated for their introspective lyrics and connection to Unitarian Universalist values. Fans have described his concerts as uplifting and soul-stirring [I agree!!], often highlighting his ability to blend storytelling with music. [from RiseUpSinging.org] 

Have you experienced his music or performances firsthand? Let me know in the comments. And if music speaks to your soul, and you haven't experienced Mayer's music yet, I encourage you to have a listen. [https://www.petermayer.net/  On YouTube: @petermayer9776 ]

Blessings on your Day!

The Joy of ... Snow!

When I lived in Michigan, snow was a way of life. It came in the Fall, stayed into Spring, and if you lived in or visited the Upper Peninsula, you were likely to see snow in July. In the Triangle of North Carolina, snow is ... different.

We had our first snowfall today. Tomorrow is the first day of Winter, so right on time. The snow came in big, fluffy flakes and fell slowly, gently, in no rush at all. Each flake landed and disappeared. The ground is still too warm to hold such a small offering. The whole snow event  took place in the early morning, around 7 AM, and lasted 15 minutes.

My husband hurried into my home office where I was writing and pulled the blinds open. "It's snowing!" he said with the excitement of a little boy. To which I replied, "Will you look at that!" and we stood for long minutes, an arm around each other, watching.

In those moments, I experienced the Joy that Sister Wendy talks about in her Book of Meditations. She says that Joy is not constant, but flashes suddenly upon our shadows and darkness, illuminating and transforming our interior landscape. In joy, the world becomes different, marvelous, unique.

And so it was for those few minutes this morning.

As we finish this third week of Advent, Laudete Week, the week of joy, I pray that you find such joy in your life. Often.

Blessings on your day!