For obvious reasons, I have not talked much about leaving my position as Superintendent last summer. However, I can say that my approach to this leaving has been as complete a severing as possible. That part of my life is over, and though I have been invited to visit schools or attend events, I Have consistently declines. I have no desire to stay attached to the life that made up 35 years of my career. I’m sure this decision was based on a mixture of not wanting to be caught in the past as well as anger over everything that happened. It has been easier to maintain a very few friendships and put the rest behind me. It was another life.
So I have turned down every invitation to participate in the schools where I no longer had a role. That is, until this week. Every year I have attended the Mater Dei Madrigal Feast. This yearly celebration of Christmas always was an essential kickoff to the holiday, presenting excellent choral music of many periods and styles, and of all the things I was missing, this stood out for me. So I decided to break my rule and come to the concert portion of the evening.
I was very nervous about coming back, and very much wanted to just fade in to the crowd. However, once the music began, I knew that I had made the right choice. The choir always begins the program with “Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing,” a perfect Advent song, and the arrangement is so beautiful, contrasting male and female voices and culminating with a very dramatic final verse with the voices of several hundred choir members as the stage is bathed in dazzling light. This was followed by nearly two hours of choral pieces, handbell selections, and solo songs. The evening ended with the traditional singing of “Peace, Peace” overlaid with “Silent Night,” which was appropriate because that was exactly what I was feeling. For all my nervousness and concern, I was so happy that I was there.
Today is the Second Sunday in Advent. The readings for the day begin with primary theme: Comfort. I found comfort, joy, and peace in tonight’s concert. Not everything has to be left behind.
I enjoyed this post.