The Stream and the Song


There’s much to be said about the pros and cons of social media these days. Amidst all fluff, commercialism, time-wasting, there are moments when being part of this global stream of communication is a pure and beautiful thing.

The Stream

A couple weeks ago much of the world shared in the shock, sadness and outrage at the shooting in Aurora, CO. My Twitter feed started filling up with these shared reactions as the news of the tragedy spread. As I added my voice to the stream, I thought about what I was doing. Was anyone going to read what I wrote? Did that even matter? In that moment, I didn’t want to heard, I just wanted to join in the stream. To add my tear to the river.

Social media gives us the ability to be part of a global community. While we talk about it being interactive, or letting your voice be heard, often what’s more valuable is just being part of the family.

The Song

Singing together is one of those things that we only do in church services, sporting events and birthday parties. But if you’re like me, many of your best “togetherness” memories include music. Everything from intimate moments playing with a 5-piece band to singing with thousands at a U2 concert. There’s something about music connects us.

I can’t imagine anything but music that could have brought about this alchemy. Maybe it’s because music is about as physical as it gets: your essential rhythm is your heartbeat; your essential sound, the breath. We’re walking temples of noise, and when you add tender hearts to this mix, it somehow lets us meet in places we couldn’t get to any other way.
– Anne Lamott, “Traveling Mercies”

Maybe when we add our 140 characters to the stream, we’re adding our voice to the song. While the only sound is your keyboard clicking, the song reverberates between us as we share joys and sadness and share in a common humanity that spans oceans and continents.

Thanks for adding your voice to the song.


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