New Bern, NC – I rarely use the term holiday in place of Christmas, but for ALL listeners of our Craven Messiah Chorus’s 36th presentation of Handel’s Messiah, it was truly a miracle for all faiths.
When I attended our local ecumenical service of support for our Jewish friends after the senseless massacre at the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh, I was blessed to sit next to a Jewish couple who attend our local synagogue just around the corner from that night’s Service of Remembrance.
In the course of conversation, they learned that I sang in the annual presentation of Handel’s Messiah; and it turns out, they are regular attenders! What a thrill it is to know our efforts speak to so many faiths!
After suffering the ravages of Hurricane Florence this fall – our town, community, and most of Eastern North Carolina will be in the throes of recovery for months and even years to come. Many are not recovering in place – they have chosen to simply cut bait and move on.
City leaders have pushed heaven and earth to pick up, muck out, tear down, rebuild, put on fresh paint, and put the “open for business” signs right next to the “New Bern Strong” messages spray-painted on temporary shop windows. Our city workers have decorated our town like never before for the holidays.
There was a brief conversation about even doing the Messiah this year. Many of our chorus members and our musical directors were devastated by the storm. Maybe we just needed to take a year off to lick our wounds?
That conversation lasted about a nanosecond. Our chorus wanted to do its part in the recovery. We were NOT going to skip this year’s production. If anything, our community needed the Messiah message more than ever.
Fast forward through weekly Monday night rehearsals starting in November and going through the crescendo of practice during our unofficial “Messiah Marathon Week,” which sees over ten hours of concentrated singing.
Jim Ogle, our conductor for all 36 years, returns to our town from Idaho each year because this presentation is that special. He reminds us that the NC Symphony members who accompany us are not looking for another, “Holiday Pops gig.” They, too, return each year because their hearts, souls, and musical selves are moved by the quality of our production and the message it imparts.
These NC Symphony professionals drive to New Bern on Monday in time for our ticketed open rehearsal atarting at 3 pm the day of our evening performance. Messiah goers enjoy the relaxed atmosphere of this special event as Jim Ogle will take time to talk to them between pieces, explaining instrumentation and various musical nuances. His occasional, “do-be-do-be-dos,” give added color to the rehearsal and offer light-hearted moments for the audience and chorus members.
Here’s where the drama starts.
At approximately 12:30 pm on that Monday afternoon, our conductor learned that the NC Symphony members could not even get out of their driveways from the weekend snow and ice storm that had slammed the western and middle part of the state. Most symphony members live in the middle part of the state.
Oh, my. No violins taking us soaring to the heavens. No oboe. No bassoon. No beat. No pitch.
What did we have?
An accomplished symphony conductor.
A chorus more responsive to keeping its beat than ever, thanks to chest-tapping rehearsals converted to hidden knee, heel, or book patting pulses during performance.
A set of amazing soloists ready to drive the Messiah message into the hearts of all listeners.
A harpsicord and an accomplished player, Beverly Biggs, who was wisely brought into town before the storm hit her home in Durham.
A piano and a very accomplished player, BJ Oglesby, who is also one of our rehearsal directors.
A tympani player, Jack Bircher, with a tympani to play – but whose soul-stirring passages would sound out-of-place without trumpeters adding to the swirling crescendo of sounds.
A packed house of eager listeners who needed the Messiah message – maybe more than ever.
No pressure.
Right …
Our conductor explained the situation to the afternoon audience who seemed willing, curious, and understanding. Clearly, we were flying by the seat of our pants.
Oh, of course. No symphony = no overture.
First up, the tenor soloist, Bill Ward, whose amazing solo was only occasionally supported by the harpsicord music and Jim’s “do-be-do-be-dos” that filled-in for crucial violin passages.
These were trying times, and Bill knocked it out of the park. We practically cried as Jim gave Bill a heart-felt hug of appreciation.
The audience loved it. Somehow, while the stirring and floating sounds of the symphony were absent, the words and message were emphasized.
No harm. No foul.
We strive for something near perfection, you see. We never want our musical faux-pas to distract from the miraculous message Handel divinely created in just twenty-four days of inspired genius.
The chorus was directed to stand. Could we stay on pitch? Would there be a train-wreck of botched entrances? Could we concentrate hard enough to remember all we had perfected? Were we going to stay in time as we secretly tapped out subdivided beats?
We were determined to not let Jim, our audience, or ourselves down.
Success! While the pitch may have subtly dipped a time or two because we were basically singing totally accapella, there were no train wrecks or botched entrances.
Our baritone soloist, Mark Walters, added to the open rehearsal’s blessings by turning to face the chorus from time to time. It was a gift we needed.
The other soloists, Jami Rhodes, Nicole Franklin, and Pat Rowlett each added to the mounting miracle of true professionals rising to unexpected circumstances.
But that was just the beginning of miracles.
As we gathered in the church basement for rest and nourishment before the actual performance slated to start at 7:30 pm, we were faced with the reality of having to perform Handel’s Messiah accapella one more time. Next time would be to folks who paid $25 each for the experience.
Our conductor stared off into space, deep in thought. Was that his life flashing in front of his eyes? I’ll never forget his look.
Our other leader’s faces were set with a look of resolution and giving in to less-than-stellar circumstances.
Mark Walters, however, was busy texting. What was our baritone soloist conjuring up?
To the best of my recollection, it looked something like this:
5:30 pm. Texting.
6:00 pm. Texting.
6:30 pm. Texting.
6:45 pm. Waiting for texts back.
Smiles.
Whispers to our conductor.
Our pianist zooms up to the sanctuary to practice.
What has transpired?
A holiday miracle!
Strings pulled. Friends called. Friends of friends shooting texts into the dark of night.
Kimberly Zimmerman grabs some clothes and her cello. She drives to New Bern from Onslow County.
I think the two trumpeters came from Greenville.
Cold turkey; these professionals drove to our performance, sat down a few minutes before the 7:30 pm curtain, and played the music handed them by our conductor.
Got trumpets? That meant the tympani player could join in. Six instruments instead of twenty.
Never have so many been so grateful for so few instruments.
There was just enough support to keep the air filled with sound and to add just enough glorious sparkle to make the 2018 Craven Messiah Chorus’s presentation of George F. Handel’s Messiah an experience that will be treasured for a long time to come.
For our regular readers, was this a holiday miracle or maybe a God wink? See last week’s post!
May each of you experience your own holiday miracle!
Blessing to all during this season of miracles for all faiths.
Until the New Year-
Deidre
tempting. A great gift idea, too. Haven’t taken that swab plunge yet, but sometimes a very Nordic, “Yah,” periodically comes out of my mouth that I wonder, “where did that come from?”
what I mean: some ‘random’ thing that leads to something else that leads to something else? The dominoes keep tipping over in a beautiful opening of blessings?
One evening, we dined with an Amish family who served traditional Amish fare supplied by a local restaurant and who opened up for an honest and frank question and answer period. As a personal thank you gift, I gave her a signed copy of my book, Toolkit for Wellness, as a gesture of sharing, in kind, a bit of myself.
when her husband had died in 2010, but that she waited two years to read it. She said that reading the book, When God Winks at You, changed her life.
accident that you just picked up When God Winks. In fact, you may have suspected all along that there is more to coincidence than meets the eye. These seemingly random events are actually sign posts that can help you successfully navigate your career, relationships, and interests. By recognizing the God winks our Creator sometimes places in our paths, we can understand—and embrace—the journey God has laid out for us.
Speaking of book-giving at Christmas – where did that tradition come from? I have always loved giving and getting books for Christmas. Yah?
items readily available to give as gifts at Christmas. Hence, a strong tradition of book ownership, reading, and Christmas gift preferences.
While change is one of the few constants in this world, it’s the one we tend to like the least. The older we get, the tighter we cling to the old ways and resist anything new.
I have to say that the simple wisdom found in this quick read of Out of the Maze has helped me in my own transitions of late. It’s a great book to pull off the shelf at the start of each New Year as we all move forward with our lives and pause to reflect on our progress or to consider if we are ‘stuck’ in a maze.
targeted to be ‘food’ for your mind, body, and spirit.
Thanksgiving? Leftovers may be my favorite part of the holiday, so it seems appropriate to have savored my Cranberry Secret Sauce over some peanut butter on gluten free toast for breakfast today.
Check last week’s post to keep that tasty and versatile jewel of redness around for the whole holiday season.
bacterial hand soap.
Finally, Bath and Body Works and other purveyors of “soap-ness,” have returned to offering most of their wares in the non-antibacterial form. Excellent!
squirt-top container, I discovered regular liquid is too thick to go through the apparatus. What to do? I tried diluting the liquid – one-part soap to 2-3 parts water – guess what? Foaming soap! Think of all the water I had been buying all those years.
No matter what soap we use, the trick is in proper handwashing technique. Rub, rub, rub those dirty paws thoroughly. Get to all surfaces of the hands, between fingers, and scrape your nails along the palm of the opposite hand to drive the soap bubbles underneath them. The rubbing process with soapy hands should last for 15-20 seconds or two hums of the Happy Birthday song.
truly proper handwashing, coupled with not touching your face, will break that hand-to-mouth/eye/nose circle of germ circulation.
Today’s next tidbit is something I’ve successfully employed in my recovery from being in a hypervigilant state for the past two years – even longer, as I endeavored to be “on-the-ready” for my husband’s changing needs.
mean our nervous systems magically switch to a normal maintenance mode. Some of my symptoms were manifesting as an irregular heartbeat at bedtime.
Maybe you, too, are trying to come off of a hypervigilant state. Whether it’s a different living circumstance, a change in jobs, or a change in relationships, converting to a calmer state of mind is not easy. Others may wonder why you may be having a rough time since the “problem” has been eliminated.
While I am still very much a work in progress, I would like to share a bit of success that may help you, too. Curing hypervigilance and anxiety requires a multi-faceted approach, often with professional counselors, but this may be a starting point for you.
This is how that went for me – here comes that nightly tension; I’m feeling those strong erratic beats of my heart which causes more anxiety – and instead of the usual tailspin, I applied alternate thinking.
quiet breathing.
Remember to be “off screen” before bed each night; the blue light of electronic screens is detrimental to the production of sleep-inducing hormones. Read something relaxing and helpful from a good old-fashioned printed book. It can be part of your winding-down routine for a good night’s sleep.
working is a big job. While post-hurricane mold spores swirl in the air along with the usual mix of wintertime viruses, many of us are walking a thin line between health and vocal collapse.
I’ve cheated the all-night simmering of chicken bones with large boxes of organic, free range, chicken bone broth.
2 chicken thighs
It’s that good.
“bad ones”
1 cinnamon stick
sweetness later on during cooking)
Place a sieve over a bowl. Pour raspberries and their juices into sieve. Using a spoon or rubber spatula, press the berries through the sieve until only seeds remain.
Dice up the peeled pear. I usually make a small dice by slicing through the thick part of each pear quarter, make lengthwise slices of both layers, then cut horizontally to make small pieces. Add pear to the cooking berries.
When you deem the sauce is finished cooking by noting the consistency and the popped state of the berries, turn off the heat and allow to cool a bit. Remove the cinnamon stick.
some of the happiest times of the year: Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas, Hanukah, and New Year’s Day – to name a few. Maybe a birthday or an anniversary will be added to the mix. Some of us, however, may be caught up in the poignancy of All Saints’ Day Memorials – remembering those who have passed away in the last 
year – or in Veterans’ Day tributes to those who have given their all for us in battles of war.
may have resulted in the physical and emotional rugs being jerked out from under us, many of us are just trying to suck in all of our emotions.
But is that the right approach?
produce about 10 ounces of tears a day and 30 gallons a year. Toddlers probably exceed that.
such as dust, wind, or onions.
Tears release toxins from the body – The tears we release when crying actually wash away the chemicals that raise the stress hormone (cortisol) inside of us. Other chemicals found in our emotional tears include the “feel good” hormones, called endorphins, that help to decrease pain.
have been shown to help kill anthrax.
Tears relieve stress – Stress activates our Sympathetic Nervous System or our fight-or-flight response. Tears counter that by activating our calming system called the Parasympathetic System. Again, our tears cause the stress hormones and toxins to wash away, thereby reducing tension. As one article pointed out, tears are certainly a healthier option to punching a brick wall and cause no physical injury, no headaches, and do not contribute to higher blood pressures.
moments and can put an emphasis on the emotional component of a verbal exchange.
If you aren’t going to be home for Christmas; if your family does not look like a Norman Rockwell painting; if you are going to spend the first holidays without a special someone; chances are, a good cry may come your way.
others in similar circumstances (or worse) and be a light in the darkness for them. Call others on a whim. Surprise an acquaintance with a small gift or flower, or physically be there for someone in need.
box of Kleenex. You may need to see the doctor. Be alert for signs of depression in yourself or others which will also include some, or all, of the following indicators:
Depression will not be fixed by a good cry. Depression is not fixed by “pulling up your own boot straps.” If you see yourself in the list above, please make contacting a physician a priority. You do not have to feel like that. There is help!
The whole back-to-school atmosphere of late August makes me think of fresh yellow No. 2 pencils and a brand-new box of Crayola’s.
After taking 28 days of vacation out of town to reconnect and refresh – my physical and emotional fatigue, grief, and jet lag have taken a toll. Spending 15 minutes with my new watercolor brush pens takes me away from those blue electronic screens, and completely relaxes my mind and body in preparation for a restful night.
those crayons, pens, pencils, or brushes to help disconnect and calm yourself for sleep.
As regular readers already know, it’s been two or three years since I’ve had any kind of time off. It was pure bliss to reconnect with friends I hadn’t seen for forty years in Sacramento, California. Then I flew to the Big Island of Hawaii where I basked in paradise at my daughter’s home. I hope you have had some type of time away from your normal schedule. It’s so healing to just walk away from it all – even for just a few days.
stopped there for me except for playing Uno with the grandkids.
to reset myself. Other than the obvious changes that come with grief and widowhood, my body is clamoring for some attention. Too many good habits have gone by the wayside as caregiver stress mounted for over two years.
Like the classroom instruction starting up all around us, we would do well to remember how learning happens. Teachers guide young minds to learn one concept at a time. When that concept is mastered through practice and application, the next concept is introduced. Children put all of those concepts together to create a bigger whole. Learn the alphabet and the sounds each letter makes. Put those letters together to form words and then sentences. Eventually, books are read.
my public 
Everything that has been shared about journaling for goals is true. The effect is immediate. The desire to improve is fleshed out in action through this simple accountability tool. Grab a piece of paper and write down your daily progress for a personal goal.
periodically with an update as to your progress or share some difficulties. We’re in this together to help and cheer each other on to success!
and recipes with my readers escaped me. Earlier this year, I pushed through the pressing personal concerns surrounding me to nurture the creative process, but I have sort of let you down of late. Apologies.
windows. Why, even doing dishes is fun while glancing up to appreciate my own little Eden.
When there’s a song in your heart, you sing – right?
Have you noticed the paleo writers all seem to have a side hustle about “Keto” related? After writing how-to books, recipe books, and countless blogs, my favorite paleo gurus are now on the Ketogenic bandwagon. Their new book releases all sport Keto-friendly labels. Their latest products are “Keto-centric” as well- meaning, they are totally focused on low-carb, high-fat foods.
Friend: Sodium is another weight adder. I recently had a cheat day where lunch was a cheeseburger with chili cheese fries followed by Chinese for dinner. I woke up the next day 7 pounds heavier! Couldn’t believe it. Went back on the good diet and lost all that water weight in three days
world turn while watching the clouds above float by.
forests of Northern California was a holy experience. Quietly stepping into the ancient tabernacle of giant redwoods was life-changing! I return to that experience often to relive the awe and wonder of it. Presently, extended slow walks to the mailbox and some time spent on the back porch swing have to satisfy that deep need for now.
boat on the river or time sitting on one of our beautiful beaches satisfies many. Time to unplug from the rat race and reconnect to the REAL WORLD of nature.
The best indicator of longevity turned out to be the number of daily face-to-face connections we had. Smiling at people. Striking up brief conversations with strangers. Laughing about the human condition with someone while in line at the bank. Lamenting about the price of tomatoes with a fellow shopper. Little connections. With humans. Face-to-face.
Yours truly won one of the main door prizes! I had never heard of a Dash Caddie before, so the young inventor and his wife had to show and demonstrate it to me.
Caddie, which is a portable box that can mount into almost any golf cart or suction-cupped onto the dash of an RV or boat with ease.
signing up either here, on our site, or as the result of talking with me at a recent book signing, you will never miss a new post full of ideas on how to improve your health one bite, one breath, or one movement at a time.
We are always growing and changing. A good “stretch” in our comfort zones never fails to strengthen our souls.
than death – is public speaking?
One author used breathing techniques to help himself. He blew through his lips after each page he read, as if he were saying, “Whew, that’s over!” It was beautiful watching him grow and stretch! After a while, he looked up more at the crowd as he described the passion behind his story.
body. We expect our bodies to always be on duty for us, doing what we expect of them, expecting perfection.
may have some sense of a lack of fulfillment – or downright panic -with no added sugars. Dessert seems to be a thing of the past.
In the recipe section of Toolkit for Wellness, I included a few ideas to dress up these seeds into what I call a jam. If you add berries and cook them in on the stove, you can get a bowl of chia goodness (that will be prettier).
add creates the flavor. A small handful of dried fruit works well, too.