March 3, 2023
My husband and I had a chance this week to go see one of our favorite musicians, Bob Weir, play at The Palace in St. Paul with his band Wolf Bros. Those who know Bob Weir know he was a founder of the band The Grateful Dead, and those who know me know that The Grateful Dead are near and dear to my heart, and are a factor in my call to the priesthood.
For me, attending a concert in this genre with the audience that attends these shows feels like a glimpse into what the Kingdom of Heaven might be. There is a kindness, a gentleness, and a generosity among that crowd that feels natural, and yet it is very intentional. There are certain unwritten rules at Dead shows:
1. Be kind. Open smiles, pleases, thank yous, can I help yous, come sit here, we have room are all the norm at Dead shows.
2. Be generous. It is common for people to walk around calling out, "Miracle?", meaning they are searching for a free ticket. It stems from the Grateful Dead song I Need A Miracle; the chorus goes like this:
Just one thing and I'll be OK / I need a miracle every day
It is just as thrilling to give a miracle at a Dead show as it is to receive one.
3. Be grateful. (No pun intended!) Every Grateful Dead concert is different, so one never knows how an evening will unfold, but accepting what is offered with joy is an unwritten part of attending a show. "There are no bad shows!" is a choice.
4. Be comfortable in your belovedness. A crowd favorite is a song called Lovelight, and the chorus goes:
Turn on your lovelight / Let it shine on me / Let it shine, let it shine.
I love that this song is about directly asking for what is needed. No hemming or hawing or "I am not worthy" in this one. Just an open and vulnerable ask for what we all need: love from the people around us, and the certainty that we are each deserving of it.
Does all of that sound familar? I am not saying Bob Weir is Jesus, but he does have a long beard and he happens to wear sandals... hmmm.... Or maybe it's just that Bob Weir, in his own way, has shepherded a community which, whether knowingly or unknowingly, lives out the teachings of Jesus in some very real ways. It's a beautiful thing to witness, and in a world that can seem sometimes like a desert journey, it's an oasis.
I pray for you this week some small reminders of all the ways we can experience the Kingdom of Heaven, here and now: for your open smile to meet another's, for you to encounter a generous miracle every day, for accepting with joy the gifts that come your way, and for lovelight to shine on you. I pray for an oasis whenever you find yourself on a desert journey.