Hey Friend,
This is a story about a couple I recently met in a bar.
When I get asked what I do for a living these days I often explain, “I play bars on Saturday nights and churches on Sundays!”
There’s a whole back story to how this rhythm of life came about but I’ll leave that for another day (if you’re interested in hearing about it let me know!)
So, recently I was playing for the first time in a bar venue outside my local area (they’d heard I was good, took a chance and booked me in advance for a number of dates).
In between songs a lady comes up and asks if I can sing Bob Marley’s ‘Three Little Birds’ - you know the one with the chorus: “don’t worry ‘bout a thing, ‘cos every little thing is gonna be alright’”.
I explain that I’m vaguely familiar with the song but I don’t really know it and I’ve never actually played it.
Undeterred she proceeded to sing it for me to learn! (You’d be surprised how many folks think you can conjure up a song you don’t know :-0 ).
Normally in these situations I politely try to avoid the request but she then explained that her son was involved in a car accident 18 months previously and against all odds had survived.
Every night during his ongoing recovery she had sung this song to him as he was going to sleep. It became like a ritual for them, a moment of connection and peace.
So anyways, I managed to weave those few lines of the chorus that I knew into a section of the next song.
She was delighted, thanked me and at the end of my set I left for home while she and her husband stayed on.
The next day, Sunday, I’m playing my regular chilled out afternoon set in a local seaside bar and half way through my session this same lady and her husband walk into this bar!
Miles from their home, on a completely unplanned trip to the coast they end up in the middle of my set.
We look at each other equally surprised and agree ‘what are the chances?!’
At this point even I realise there’s a bigger story unfolding here and at the end of my session I ask about her son.
I said “this might sound weird but could I pray for Jordan?”
They seemed really moved and I prayed for them and him right there.
Again they were really touched and thankful.
I know these things can be subjective but there was a real sense of peace in that moment - it seemed significant for them.
As I was packing up they asked if I was going to another gig.
“Nope, I’m going to lead a church service” I explained (I was covering for a friend of mine who leads a church but was away for the weekend).
I won’t repeat exactly what she said because that would require and explicit language warning! But let’s just say it was an unfiltered expression of surprise :-0
As I was leaving she very sincerely asked “would you ask the people at that church to pray for Jordan?”
And that’s exactly what they did - they prayed fervently for their son.
Now, I don’t know how this story ends but I do know that this interaction with this couple seemed like a little intersection of heaven and earth for them.
I understand my job is to change the atmosphere in my community through music. Whether that is leading worship in a church or playing cover songs in a bar.
Both are equally valid and can facilitate these moments of interaction between Heaven and Earth.
This is still an unfolding story and if our paths cross again I’ll keep you posted.
Speak soon.
Cheers Andy
PS. What is it that you do that brings life to the world around you?
