Words fail sometimes, but Music always speaks

 

                                            Piano 

As an empathic person, I pick up a lot from other people. Their energy tells me things that words either cannot or will not. 

My priest says that this trait is a gift, but I am not quite sure that I believe her. 

This is why I am grateful to be taking piano lessons at middle-age. Music has opened up a whole new avenue for me to express some " big feelings", that do not involve other people. 

Life is tough. As our associate priest reminded us on Sunday: "God has us". As a person of faith, I know this to be true. After over 40 years of life, I've seen enough of God's goodness to be certain that there IS a " rhyme and reason" for the hard stuff life seems to throw at us regularly. 

Personally, my life has been fairly smooth as of late. Brian and I just returned home from a wonderful short trip to New Orleans. I'm FINALLY getting some real answers and a treatment plan for my chronic nerve pain in my back. Brian is doing well, and so are my parents. 

Yet I have other loved ones who are facing some BIG challenges right now. For reasons of confidentiality-- I cannot talk about these matters {and anyway, the stories are not mine to tell} 

For we empathic " feelers-- I am a classic Myers-Briggs INFJ-- it is hard to carry others' loads. I've always been a creative person, so painting, drawing and now MUSIC  helps me cope with the big feelings. 

Music especially helps me say what words often fail to convey. 

This is why arts education-- especially music-- is so important. 

Do I wish I'd taken music lessons as a child. Of course! But looking back, I probably was not ready {lacking the ability to follow through affected me as a child much more than as an adult. } I am grateful to have a healthy way to cope with life's challenges that also adds much beauty to my life. 

Where words fail, music speaks.

Hans Christian Andersen

Shalom,

Sarahbeth McCarren

My name is Sarahbeth .

 

                                      

In the Christian calendar, we celebrated Christ's transfiguration. In today's Gospel, His friends got a peek into who He is-- not just their rabbi and friend, but also Emanual-- God- { literally}-With-Us

Hi world. My parents named me Sarah Elizabeth McCarren. There is nothing wrong with this name.  But, at this mid-life stage I feel more like a Sarahbeth.  

My name, and what I really prefer to be called, is Sarahbeth. 

Of course, I'll still retain my legal, name, as I don't dislike it. {plus, changing one's legal name is a real pain in the ass} 

I'll still answer to " Sarah" . 

But please, try to call me Sarahbeth 

Names are important. As I've already stated, there is nothing wrong with the name that is on all my identification. It is a good, solid, classic name. 

Yet at this point in my life, I feel like the nickname that my husband bestowed upon me years ago " fits" the person that I'm becoming now. 

Sarah Elizabeth= Sarahbeth. It is not difficult. 

In the last few years, I've grown and changed a lot. Boundaries are in place, and I've developed a better sense of who I am and what I am put on Earth to do. 

I am Sarahbeth. 

Amen

Transfiguration Sunday, 2023

Sarahbeth McCarren 

Sentencing of the Pittsburgh Synagogue Shooter

 

                                             My steel-tongue drum, which I had been eyeing every week that I go to the music store for my lesson. I brought it home to add to my music arsenal. Drumming is healing, and the drums {and drum circles} are not the sole copyright of any culture. Full stop. 

It has been a weird couple of days for me.

Not only has my pain level/ leg weakness been high {I thankfully get the nerve block on Monday} , but the fate of the Pittsburgh Synagogue Shooter has been determined. A jury of Pennsylvania citizens gave him the death penalty. 

I am grateful and relieved. 

There is also some guilt associated with this gratitude. After all, my normal {and lifelong} stance on capital punishment is one that is firmly against state-sanctioned murder. As a follower of Jesus Christ, I do not usually subscribe to the Old Testament. " An eye for an eye" version of justice. State-sanctioned murder will not bring back the dead. 

I still stand by my belief that capital punishment does nothing to deter violent crimes. I live in Florida, which is a state that LOVES to let the government murder people on behalf of its citizens. Unlike Florida, Pennsylvania does not put " the needle" on juries' tables. 

For this case, Pennsylvania chose to use "The Needle", if the jury agreed that is appropriate. 

A jury concurred and the monster who killed 11 Innocent people for simply being Jews is basically a dead man walking. 

I hope he gets The Needle. 

I'll say it again: I hope he gets The Needle. 

For the past few years, Jewish Americans have seen an uptick in antisemitism.

His crime took place in a Pittsburgh neighborhood that I know and love. Being from the Pittsburgh area, I know Squirrel Hill and its surrounding neighborhoods well. I've safely walked those streets in search of a bagel shop. I have a great-uncle and great-aunt who live there. 

While I am Christian by faith, I am Jewish by birth. 

As a Christian, I know state-sanctioned murder is not okay. After all, our Teacher}, Savior, and Brother was gruesomely murdered by the State in which He lived. 

Yet the Pittsburgh Synagogue massacre rocked Jewish-Americans everywhere-- but especially in the city that I love. 

Am I conflicted? Yes, I am. In my over 4 decades of life, never have I supported capital punishment. Frankly, I still do not support this barbaric practice.  

But I hope that murderous Naz! lies in fear as he is murdered.

My hope is that this will serve as a lesson to anyone who has the hatred enough to murder innocent people just because of who G-d created them to be. 

Forgive me, Creator, Redeemer, and Sustainer, for the anger in my heart. I know that " an eye for an eye" makes everyone everywhere unable to see. Use me as an instrument of Your peace and show me ways that I can be that bridge, connecting people who hate Jews to a new, loving way of viewing their neighbors. In Your Son's Name... Amen. 

Sarah Beth McCarren