playing for the living

Some of my neighbors have put together a community healing night on the beach. The same beach where the small boy lost his life to the waters of our lake last week. They’ve asked me to play guitar and sing some healing music. I’m both honored and horrified.

I’ve never considered myself or my own songs to be healing. No, I’m much more the dwell in my own misery type of songwriter. Ok, well…that’s not really true. But I do focus more on relationships, lost love, trouble with the law…you know, the stuff many good blues and C&W songs are born from. Maybe a couple political protest/commentary songs thrown in.

Healing will be a bit of a stretch.

So, here I am fretting (literally, with the guitar fretboard in my hands) over it. Not so much because of my own fears, but because I know there are others who are hurting. People who will be looking to me to help them pick themselves up and move on.

See, I won’t be playing songs about yesterday, but for today. I won’t be playing songs about second chances, and I won’t be playing for the dead. I’ll be playing for the living…for friends and neighbors with sadness in their hearts, who will be hoping that they can find peace…and that I can help them find peace.

Wow. That’s a lot of heavy air to make my strings vibrate through.

But…I know I can do it. Music can do it. I believe in the power of music, its ability to heal and bring forth life anew. And also the power of people…human energy. If I can tap into that energy, listen to the wind…for the song from their hearts.

If…

…then my guitar will play itself, and their energy will fill my voice.

And the healing might begin.