On Sunday, November 4th, I appeared with friends from the choir, AKA The Chancel Singers, in The Spirituality of Peace, Love and Understanding™, part of an ongoing music and lecture series now in it’s 7th year at The Congregational Church of Patchogue. I’ve been performing in this series, The Spirituality of Popular Music, both with the choir and as a soloist since I was invited by The Rev. Dwight Lee Wolter for The Spirituality of Leonard Cohen™ in 2015. It’s a wonderful outreach that supports and provides over 100,000 meals a year for the five soup kitchens in our community. Yes, Long Island has soup kitchens and food pantries and they are in dire need. Our area still has not totally bounced back from the recession of 2008.
I have several purposes for writing this blog. First, there is an inherent bias against “church/temple” shows on Long Island which may keep some of you from attending this top-notch series. By “church/temple” shows, I mean musical theater produced in a house of worship as opposed to a not for profit or regional theater space. Let me say that this series is often sold out and has been on occasion, standing room only. The church, a historic house of worship, seats 400 people amphitheater style, on cushioned seating, and this series attracts members of national musical tours, international opera stars, national songwriting award and Grammy Award winning artists, along with some of the finest music educators on Long Island. All of whom donate their time. Yes, you read that correctly, DONATE their time and their talent, REPEATEDLY, to help raise funds to feed the hungry in our midst.
In a month in which we, in the United States, celebrate gratitude, thankfulness and abundance in the spirit of giving, we have an outstanding example of artists walking the talk. When I first posted about The Spirituality of Peace, Love, and Understanding™, a lot of people said, “Well, that’s a great idea with everything that’s going on in our country now, the divisiveness. We really need it.”
This brings me to my next point. Quite honestly, this event was not in response to the most recent news stories. It had been in the works for months and the week of November 4th was chosen specifically for two reasons. One, it was the week of the election here in the United States and it was also the week in which my village held a vigil of remembrance on the 10th anniversary of a hate crime murder that took place not only in my neighborhood, but on my block. It was a chilling event, and received national news coverage. Ten years later, our community is still healing.
The song chosen for The Chancel Singers was “Peace Train” by Yusuf Islam, formerly known as Cat Stevens. It’s a famous song yet was unfamiliar to me. I don’t recall ever hearing it before and I also find it funny that the train is going by my house as I write and I hear the whistle. A sign? Yes, I think so. Let me tell you more.
Personally, I was a bit irked at the timing of this show as I was leaving for a business conference, Sacred Visibility™ Live, hosted by my publisher, Linda Joy, the next day, but seeing as Jon and Krista Preddice of Miles to Dayton had no babysitter and were bringing all 4 kids with them, Robert Bruey recently returned from tour, Rorie Kelly rushed out from her gig in NYC, Craig Coyle played a morning church gig and a musical in the same day and Andy Falco just got back from his honeymoon, I figure I got off easy.
Now for the kicker…
On day two of Sacred Visibility™ Live, I went to lunch with some of the other teachers, healers and business women in attendance and I happened to sit next to another professional musician so I started talking about the show. As I’m recanting the story of “Peace Train”, and explaining what The Spirituality of Popular Music series is, I hear the restaurant’s piped in music change. It sounds familiar and I keep talking while my brain hums along with the song, and all of a sudden I realize that for the first time I am hearing Yusuf Islam, formerly known as Cat Stevens, singing “Peace Train” on the radio. A sign? Yes, no doubt about it.
I am in the right place at the right time doing the right work in the world.
Music and Spirituality, that’s what my business is at its core. It’s holistic voice coaching and I work with the body, through voice, dance, the human energetic field, one’s own intuitive guidance, and our connection to the elements of Music, Nature and Spirit, to ensure vocal freedom, heal the inner being, and render the singer/speaker whole and grounded in their Voice so they can safely free their sacred message, through spoken word or song, and share it with the world. The fact that they sound beautiful doing so is an added plus!
Thank you, Dear Reader, for sticking with me this week. If you have any questions please reach out and feel free to post any loving comments below.
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The art at the top of this blog is the work of Andy Zig of planetzig.com. He designs all of the artwork for The Spirituality of…. Series.
“I am in the right place at the right time doing the right work in the world.” May we all be so blessed!
Thank you, Barb! Yes, it is one of the great blessings of my life. <3
Thank you for being an artist who walks her talk.
Divine purpose in alignment! I love signs and messages and how wonderful it is to be/stay on our path no matter what. I have been saying this all week, the Universe and the angels see us. They want whats best for us and this world…always.
Such a wonderful and heartfelt post Kathleen. I have been a fan of Cat Stevens all my life and you truly are in the right place at the right time in all you do. Blissed Blessings 🙂