Christmas Concert

December 26, 2009 at 3:02 am, lifted from my 'Memoirs of a Young Traveler'

"It's the most wonderful time of the year..." goes one song. 

It's the BEST time of the year for me...

I remember on one occasion, I was asked by an Egyptian priest to play for the Arabic community in a mini concert sponsored by our bishop. I said okay, even if they told me about it a few minutes before the concert began. It was good that they had the musical sheets readied, I had time to rehearse with them (but I practically had to read the notes from right to left). Anyway, the best part came before we sang our Christmas carols. I was a bit jittery, still studying the notes. 

There was this little African boy who looked at me intently. He had those cute innocent eyes. I was anticipating what he might need. I thought maybe he was getting hungry... or maybe he was lost and was looking for his mother. I was thinking a lot of things, when he suddenly took my hand and held it (and held it for several minutes).

 I was a bit surprised by his gesture. All the while  I thought I was holding him but it was the boy holding me and was thinking of my needs. He gave me more than what I needed at that moment... 

He gave me peace...

A thought flashed on my mind and I looked at the manger on the altar. There was this infant lying so peacefully on the hay. 

He was just waiting for the singing. This concert was for Him. So when the time finally arrived, I played the song from my heart... 

and it was because of this tiny hand that reached out to me...