K#2|Heartbeat of Songtan

Every day at 3:00 and every night at 8:00 the heartbeat of Sungtan springs up form the ground and plays a song, and the locals dance to it well after it has reached its crescendo, and off into the night and on into their dreams.

The song I heard was my favorite song I think I’ve ever heard. It was nothing like anything I’ve listened to back home in the states.

Like most things (if not everything) in this culture, this song was a community song- a community effort. Everybody played a part and added something special to it.

The shared joy of the onlookers as we watched the adorable  kids stand together, arm and arm, around the circumference of the monstrous underground water fountain. Their anticipatory giggles rumbled and set the rhythm to the melody that was about to begin. Once the waters (finally!) sprung forth from the ground at the tick of 8, their laughter busted out in a similar manner and poured out in the air,  infecting the hearts of every person there.

The beads of water echoed throughout the park as they congregated in the puddles made from the ruts in the well worn ‘dance floor’.

The heartbeat of this town came alive. The essence of community- one heart, one laugh, one song. Foot steps pattering here and there, little ones slipping with an immediate hand to help them up. Older women and men looking, with a gleam in their eye.

We were all scorched by the miserable heat. Despite our many many  differences, when you come to the water, looking to be refreshed, the differences disappear and for a moment we are all brother and sister; friend without foes.

It was bizarre to see such a wealth of love and joy in a community. Maybe the refreshing sensation of the cold water on our stinging skin is what allowed our best(s) to surface.

I’m probably over romanticizing things.

I usually do.

But it is nice to imagine that this song plays all the time;

The quartet of laughter, set by the tempo of dancing feet, and hearts that swelled with the excess happiness from the children as they effervescently exuded it.

Giggles and cackles were left in the puddles, seeping in the cracks of brick. I liked sitting on the ground because I it was almsot like I could partake in the absorption of excess joy.

Their laughter stained my heart for the night, and I replayed the song in my head over and over. I let it lull me to sleep and I slept soundly until the heavy heat woke me again the next morning.

Niece

Sweet little niece. She is currently eight weeks, although this photo was taken when she was about six weeks I believe.

Isn’t she beautiful?
Or, is that too cliche.. I feel obligated to partiality. Don’t most aunts?

Something God has gently brought to my attention over and over again this short lived year is the complete lack of community in my life. I am undoubtedly that ‘one’ isolated follower of Christ, one with good intentions and a pure heart, but none the less alone. I seem to be quick to fall under the slightest pressure, and fast to give up when fronted with the slightest intimidation. I notice that I am incredibly weak left to my own devices, and terribly unfocused. I look in the mirror and see a tired girl, letting her ‘dreams’ and ‘passions’ slip away with the ever changing wind. This girls is in dire need of rest.
Life is so rich and beautiful yet I have been running from it, almost avoiding. It hurts so much. I may have said this on here before, I don’t remember, but the Lord has allowed me to endure a difficult past three years. A tough season twas 2010, 2011 and 2012. I sense a trend, and have regrettably concluded that 2013 is assuming to maintain the pattern..

But anyway, back to what I was saying about community;
If God intentionally created me in His likeness (Gen. 1:26) and God existing in this devine triune nature, it has become clearly evident to me that, although my personal connection/relationship with God is of utmost importance, community is extremely vital to fully experiencing God, and is a very powerful way to exercise His commandment to act in love (building one another up, standing together, praying for others). Community is a lifestyle to God; an unbreakable connection maintained by love, commitment and devotion.
The enemy loves to destroy relationships. The fall of men, the first thing that was ruined was our relationship with God. Do you recognize how he divides and conquers? Do you see how we suffer under this lack of unity?
I am guilty of allowing prejudice to build their walls on the tender foundation of my susceptible heart (James 2:9). But these walls are suffocating me and I want room to breathe. I seem to hold onto past hurts and sew them in my mind, only to reap bitterness and unforgiveness; the two most powerful weapons against community.

I admit I have avoided going to a trendy college bible study, afraid of finding bunch of silly trendy hipsters. But I am just going to have to find a place to connect! I must!

John 17:20-26