Straight to the Soul
In keeping with my current theme of saying little and listening a lot, I will say this: This is what I’m listening to.
Some in my beloved Church of Christ tradition will ask this question: Yeah, but can you understand what they’re saying?
Answer: No, not really (save for a phrase or two now and then). But it doesn’t really matter. You see, there is more to God than print on a page, and there are some things that bypass the left brain and head straight to the soul.
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Brady
Taizé has got some good stuff. But their goal is for you, and others, to understand the worship time, through song and silence, through contemplative reading. That’s why they sing in many languages and offer translations to the lyrics. For Taizé it matters if you understand, even if they are words on paper, and especially if sung with the heart.
Mike the Eyeguy
That’s a good point of clarification regarding the translations, etc. The situation I’m “protesting,” though is the idea, still common in my circles, that God speaks only through the Bible–words in print–and not through the beauty of music, art, nature or other means. In other words, the music of Taize, even without the translations, still relates a truth that transcends empirical, Western rationality. Or it does to me, anyway.
So, have you ever made a pilgrimage there?
Brady
Taizé is very much a “youth” oriented ministry, and for 3 days at the end of the year there will be 30,000 youth in Geneva. Daughter is bugging us to board a group, so we’ll probably have a dozen or so youth pilgrims here. I will not participate because it really is geared toward under 30’s.
I think I understand your point, Mike, that many things lift God up and glorify him even if we don’t understand what is being said, or even if nothing is being said, something can be communicated. However, one of the differences between Christian worship and other types of worship is the engagement of mind and spirtit, or Spirit, if you’d like… Thus, one of the reasons why I’m pleased that Taizé translates and tries above all to communicate simple yet profound truths through song.
Glad to see you back on the blog-waves, even if it’s only for a day or two… Brady
Mike the Eyeguy
You’re acting like an old fogey–stop that. Get on the bus and go.
Mike the Eyeguy
Furthermore, if I lived where you lived, I would go–in a heartbeat.
Of course, I can still pass for 30-something if you just squint your eyes a little. Not sure I can say the same about you.
Mike the Eyeguy
Oh, and another thing–30,000 youth in Geneva seeking after a sign of God?
It seems to me that this (and the steady stream of pilgrims to Taize over the years) might belie the common notion that faith is deader than a doorknob in Europe. I know it’s small, but still, signs of a pulse, wouldn’t you say?
Brady
Actually, they don’t leave us much of a choice. It really is supposed to be for youth. We’re not really excluded, just not so much invited.
I have no doubt you would fit right in, squint or no squint.
30,000 means something… What, exactly, I don’t know. I’m sure it’s not a bad sign. I tend to be optimistic about it. That’s why we want to participatey… Even if it’s not by atteding. 500000 gathered in Bern to see the last Pope. That meant something too. But, once again, I am a lousy interpreter of the signs. Blesseings to you…
Stoogelover
I was first introduced to Taize at a Zoe Worship conference about 5 years ago and fell in love with that style of worship. Hard to get the coC people into it, though.