Drumbeats

We were in Pied Piper (a music store) today -- G wanted to look at guitars. While he was occupied with that, I wondered around the store. A large section of this store is dedicated to percussion instruments. As I strolled among the drums, I tapped lightly on each one -- bongos, congas, drums -- all of different sizes and designs. I've never paid much attention before, but each one had its own voice and its own sound.

I also read this post today, by Andy at Enter the Rainbow (God's Language). On Pentecost, Andy asked his children's moment crowd what language God speaks. They decided at first, that God speaks all languages. Then one little boy suggested that God speaks God's language. His little sister theorized that God language is composed of all of our languages. Wise children.

Andy discusses this further, liking the idea that God have given each of us -- those who speak English, Spanish, French, the language of youth, the language of those who live in the city, of those who live in the South -- you get the idea -- that God has given each of us some of his own language. He has also given us, through the spirit, the ability to speak to each other and to understand each other.

Andy says:

But now I think rather that Pentecost reinforces Babel, emphasizing the reality that God has made people different - cultures, places, languages, ages, etc. The Holy Spirit then empowers us to connect with each other within that diversity, it does not eliminate that diversity for the sake of an artificially imposed uniformity.

All of the percussion instruments speak a different language -- each has its own voice and character. When we hear them together, played by an expert, we are amazed by what emerges. Diversity -- when played together -- creates beautiful music.

And as I have heard before, if we listen carefully, we will hear God in the silence between the drumbeats.

Image: Sky on the way home on a day this week.