First violin, third row

In the middle of an otherwise bleak working day, I experienced something rather significant. I asked a potential client what he thinks of my proposal to facilitate a strategy process for a symphony orchestra. To find out about my own motives and understanding of the subject area, he asked innocently: "What kind of experience have you got regarding symphony orchestras?"

And there I was, encouraged to come out with my history as musician: something almost forgotten yet so precious. It's been many years but it still matters. All those hundreds of rehearsals and concerts matter. And it's all coming together now!

In my elation, I browsed through old albums and found this picture from... um, just a while ago. Like yesterday (year 1983 ;-)

Blessed

I'm experiencing clearly what it means to be blessed.

On the one hand, the week has been really tough... with the return from Taizé Praiseland to Everyday Toils. In my case, it also meant some unexpected financial distress with cancelled client work and an incoming payment being postponed by months.

Yet there have been enormous delights, too, mainly through friends willing to help. Someone paid back an old loan; someone else bought food and drink for our coming together. Another friend gave me a list of potential business partners' names & numbers, and told me to simply introduce myself as "her friend". All of the calls went well! All were willing to discuss business!

This morning some friends were here to celebrate my birthday. We also sang new Taizé songs. It sounded truly beautiful. Surrounded by people who care, I feel very blessed indeed.

Spiritus autem vivificat

Anne, Annemarie, Astrid, Brigitte, Carola, Christian, Clemens, Coco, Cole, David, David, Émile, Eulalia, Finn, Francesco, Franz-Josef, Frédéric, Gabriele, Gerd, Isabel, Jean, Johan, Jona, Julia, Justin, Karl-Joakim, Kevin, Leann, Lee, Lena, Lilian, Lucy, Marijke, Markus, Michael, Paco, Philip, Rosina, Ruben, Sabine, Sebastian, Simon, Simon, Sue, Tracey, Wayne. These are some people I met last week in Taizé. There may have been more, but these are the names I remember. Out of these 46, I'd only met 6 before.

No wonder I felt an enormous relief when Brother Pedro assigned us a 4-hour silence on Friday. This beautiful time of contemplation allowed me to catch my breath, and to see more clearly the seeds of new life already at work within and around me.