On Friday, I attended a Passover Seder with good friends. Some around the table were Jewish, several were from Christian backgrounds, and a few were unaffiliated with any religion.
Today I attended an Easter brunch at the home of another dear friend. Around this table, once again, were people from many different faith backgrounds and observances.
In some places and times, this could be a recipe for disaster. But fortunately for us, these gatherings were convivial, interesting, educational, and joyful.
What I love most is that these diverse gatherings acknowledge and celebrate that we humans have much in common with one another. When we sit down together to talk, laugh, share stories, and learn, we are vividly reminded that no one has a monopoly on values like love, respect, kindness, self reflection and graciousness.
We can practice our beliefs wholeheartedly and authentically, while still respecting, learning about and admiring others who express our shared values in different ways and with different rituals.
I am frequently reminded of these transcendent values when I am programming Sunday Baroque. So much of the music of the baroque era was intended for liturgical purposes, and yet it transcends any particular belief system and becomes a universal language that can be embraced for its intrinsic beauty.
Many years ago a dear friend shared a wonderful story from his childhood. As a young Jewish boy approaching his Bar Mitzvah, he was asked by his mother for a wish list of gifts for his relatives to get him. He was a passionate music lover, and he compiled a long, detailed list of LPs he was eager to own.
At the top of his list of coveted Bar Mitzvah gifts was a recording of George Frideric Handel’s oratorio MESSIAH. And yes, dear reader, one of his beloved relatives gave him that special gift!
So at this time of the holiest of holidays, and a time of rejuvenation of the natural world as spring comes into full blossom, I wish you a light heart, and hope you find yourself surrounded by loving friends and family, new experiences, and great music.
Well said, Suzanne, my friend. With all of the manufactured hate we are currently exposed to lately, it’s good to be reminded that what we share through travel, music and cuisine far exceeds this temporary, negative “bubble”. My personal observation at home is around, not surprisingly, walking my precious dog, Billy. Because of our close proximity to a wide variety of government and private institutions, our neighborhood is comprised of many ethnically diverse residents. Because of our shared love for animals, these dog “parents” have all formed a close bond that we share often throughout the day. If only there was some way to make history, music and culture available to those who cannot access them freely, I believe our shared interests would bring us closer together as a people. I wish I could contribute more than I do to NPR, because I find their wide variety of programming so beneficial, as opposed to commercial radio. Yours (Sunday Baroque) is the only time we have to listen to soothing, calming reminders of what is important in life. Kudos to you for the sunshine you spread.
Thank you, Sandy! Another great example of people sharing more things in common than the things that divide us! 🙂