Gates and doors...

Yesterday, I had an enlightened moment. Perhaps I've had them before. Who knows where these things will lead, but I did have one as I pulled into the gravel parking lot at work and parked my car. As is true for many people, I'm sure, I listen to music on my commute. Certainly not the radio - I would arrive ready to pinch someone's ears off. The commercials, the hype, the news...let us protect ourselves from these things early in the morning!

No, I keep a few cds in the car, and when I tire of those I recycle the stock, choosing replacements from the eclectic collection at home. This particular day, I was listening to the Cambridge Singers performing favorites composed by John Rutter. While, Mr. Rutter would not necessarily be on the top of my favorite composers (I'm not totally sure who would be at the top of that list...), he has written some absolutely lovely music. The important part is that most of the pieces have gorgeously lyrical melodies and equally as satisfying and comforting Christian texts, and listening to these performances done by an English choir, some with boy sopranos and altos in their hauntingly light to non-existent vibratos ---well what can one say. It's a prayer in and of itself.

On this morning, one of my favorites was in mid-play, so when I pulled into my parking space, I just turned off the engine (but not the music) and listened to the end. Just closed my eyes, let the melody and lyrics wash over, and calmed myself for the day. Now I imagine there might not be anything unusual about that except for the fact that one of our trusty security staff saw me pulling into the lot, and had very kindly opened the door for me to come in while I was out of sight, sitting quietly in my car with the motor off.

He was kind enough not to ask me why, but I thought later that maybe I just should have said I was having my time with God. I mean, it was true. We have to grab our moments with Him sometimes in unexpected ways. Those moments open so many new gates and doors,,,,