L-Train Angel

Now that I stop to think about it, it's troubling that for the four days my sister is home I'll only get to truly be with her for two of them. Also, I've realized that it's kind of ironic that nearly 4 out of 5 times we're at church these days my family will be sitting in our normal spot and I'll be somewhere else, lectoring or singing or youth massing it up. Church is, in a sense, a time of emotional bonding, both with your own family as well as the parish community. And I'm never even by them anymore. That makes me think...

New thought. Yesterday was basically Church Day, thank heavens. I need those days. I was doing something church related for a total of sixish hours, and I wish it could have been twice that! Last night at 9 PM I had the opportunity to go to an entirely youth-led/planned service at my friend Spice's church. They did an excellent job, and I was glad to have gone. The music actually struck me the most... Spice's friends Tom and Dave (and Adam, but I don't think I've met him) are in a band called Morus and they performed four original songs, which blew me away. Dave has the most gorgeous voice and Tom writes superb lyrics. The songs were pretty darn good. One of them in particular hit me quite deeply, entitled "L-Train Angel." Tom went down to Chicago a while back and saw a homeless man with a cup thing for money when he was getting on the L... and he just kept walking. The encounter really had a profound impact on him, and he kept wondering about the man. I guess he was really frustrated with himself for not stopping or doing anything. So thusly, he wrote the song about his experience, and it's really beautiful. I'll post some of the lyrics:

"Caught sight of him, he caught sight of me -
For a second we were lost in my uncertainty
I knew what he desired, cause nothing's ever free
I, I looked away

A crinkled sign a crooked tooth, his desperate eyes saw me
He was beautiful and begging on his knees
He didn't say a word, cause nothing's ever free
I, I looked away

(Chorus)
Some pocket change is all he desired
Voiceless today, someday he'll sing with angel's choirs
L-Train angel, you were God that day
One day you'll fly away, one day you'll fly away

Why was I just like all the rest?
I'm sorry, Lord, I failed this charity test
Last shall be first, the first shall be made last
I, I looked away"

I wish I could sing it onto the internet, or rather that they could because that'd probably be a lot better than my singing it. I think the thing that hits me most last night was the passion that they played it with. It was really something else. Nothing stirs me more than music... it's like God's most direct form of communication.

So on that lovely thought, I'm going to go play piano for a while and then get ready for tonight. I'm singing with the choir at our Easter Vigil, my favorite mass of the year! Quite excited.

Thank you Lord for your sacrifice and the life you've renewed within us!

How beautiful~