Part 2 of being deaf enough to hear. I awoke this morning still pondering Beethoven’s Ode to Joy. The whisper was not yet finished.

At lunch, needing a break from the day, I went to my car to listen to my meditation music. The faithful little iPod was already set to play. Meditation music did not play. Instead a pop song not even in the play list began to play. Without warning I was riding Beethoven’s crescendos on Macy Gray’s “Sweet Baby.” Oh yes, a love song. A romantic love song for sure. Perhaps I was primed from the reading last night. No matter. It was the final chorus and I think Beethoven would agree. The line “I’m your lady” almost stuck in my throat. “Lady” is not a term I would use for myself, giggle. But I sang it. Each time the song repeated the crescendos were stronger.

Sometimes you just have to sing a love song to life. You just have to tap your feet, use the steering wheel for a drum, and lay your head back, and sing “I love you life.” After work, with the strangest music mix ever – Beethoven’s “Ode to Joy” and Macy Gray’s “Sweet Baby”- dancing in my head I stopped to watch the sunset. Seemed the proper thing to do. As the sun set on an incredible day, and the audacity to bridge Beethoven and Macy Gray, I bowed my head. As the sunset I knew with certainty how Beethoven did it.  With bowed head, I prayed again to be deaf enough to hear. But this time, with the day folding, I added a coda: “In my deafness may I always dance to Your love song. I’m your lady.”

[Original lyrics] “Ode to Joy”

 O friends, no more of these sounds!

Let us sing more cheerful songs,

More songs full of joy!

Joy!

Joy! ….

Thus, brothers, you should run your race,

Like a hero going to victory!

You millions, I embrace you.

This kiss is for all the world!

Brothers, above the starry canopy

There must dwell a loving [creator].

Do you fall in worship, you millions?

World, do you know your creator?

Seek Him in the heavens;

Above the stars must he dwell.

 

 

Macy Gray “Sweet Baby”

 

Many times I’ve been told that I should go

but they don’t know

what we got baby

then they not see the love in you

but love I do

and I’m staying right here

 

ummm sweet sweet baby life is crazy

but there’s one thing

I am sure of

that I’m your lady

always baby

and I love you now and ever

 

Suga wishes don’t change what is real

or how it feels in the bad times

forever [life] is, [life’s] mine all the time

and we get by with our true love 

 

https://youtu.be/-UhwvrjTY3o