thanks glad to hear it ----- Original Message ----- From: "Sugar" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Sunday, September 23, 2007 11:30 AM Subject: [RecipesAndMore] Re: The song that silenced the cappuccino machine
> > Oh I like this, thanks so much Delma > sugar > > > Sugar Syl Says: > The kindness you spread today > will be gathered up and returned to you tomorrow. > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "delma bliss" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > To: <[email protected]> > Sent: Saturday, September 22, 2007 8:39 PM > Subject: [RecipesAndMore] The song that silenced the cappuccino machine > > >> >> >> The song that silenced the cappuccino machine >> by John Thomas Oaks >> It was chilly in Manhattan but warm inside the Starbucks shop on 51st >> Street >> and Broadway, just a skip up from Times Square. Early November weather in >> New >> York City holds only the slightest hint of the bitter chill of late >> December >> and January, but it's enough to send the masses crowding indoors to vie >> for >> available space and warmth. >> For a musician, it's the most lucrative Starbucks location in the world, >> I'm >> told, and consequently, the tips can be substantial if you play your >> tunes >> right. Apparently, we were striking all the right chords that night, >> because >> our basket was almost overflowing. >> It was a fun, low-pressure gig - I was playing keyboard and singing >> backup >> for my friend who also added rhythm with an arsenal of percussion >> instruments. >> We mostly did pop songs from the '40s to the '90s with a few original >> tunes >> thrown in. During our emotional rendition of the classic, "If You Don't >> Know >> Me by Now," I noticed a lady sitting in one of the lounge chairs across >> from >> me. She was swaying to the beat and singing along. >> After the tune was over, she approached me. "I apologize for singing >> along >> on that song. Did it bother you?" she asked. >> "No," I replied. "We love it when the audience joins in. Would you like >> to >> sing up front on the next selection?" >> To my delight, she accepted my invitation. >> "You choose," I said. "What are you in the mood to sing?" >> "Well. ... do you know any hymns?" >> Hymns? This woman didn't know who she was dealing with. I cut my teeth on >> hymns. Before I was even born, I was going to church. I gave our guest >> singer >> a knowing look. "Name one." >> "Oh, I don't know. There are so many good ones. You pick one." >> "Okay," I replied. "How about 'His Eye is on the Sparrow'?" >> My new friend was silent, her eyes averted. Then she fixed her eyes on >> mine >> again and said, "Yeah. Let's do that one." >> She slowly nodded her head, put down her purse, straightened her jacket >> and >> faced the center of the shop. With my two-bar setup, she began to sing. >> Why should I be discouraged? >> Why should the shadows come? >> The audience of coffee drinkers was transfixed. Even the gurgling noises >> of >> the cappuccino machine ceased as the employees stopped what they were >> doing >> to listen. The song rose to its conclusion. >> I sing because I'm happy; >> I sing because I'm free. >> For His eye is on the sparrow >> And I know He watches me. >> When the last note was sung, the applause crescendoed to a deafening roar >> that would have rivaled a sold-out crowd at Carnegie Hall. Embarrassed, >> the >> woman >> tried to shout over the din, "Oh, y'all go back to your coffee! I didn't >> come in here to do a concert! I just came in here to get somethin' to >> drink, >> just >> like you!" But the ovation continued. I embraced my new friend. "You, my >> dear, have made my whole year! That was beautiful!" >> "Well, it's funny that you picked that particular hymn," she said. >> "Why is that?" >> "Well . ..." she hesitated again, "that was my daughter's favorite song." >> "Really!" I exclaimed. >> "Yes," she said, and then grabbed my hands. By this time, the applause >> had >> subsided and it was business as usual. "She was 16. She died of a brain >> tumor >> last week." >> I said the first thing that found its way through my stunned silence. >> "Are you going to be okay?" >> She smiled through tear-filled eyes and squeezed my hands. "I'm gonna be >> okay. I've just got to keep trusting the Lord and singing his songs, and >> everything's >> gonna be just fine." >> She picked up her bag, gave me her card, and then she was gone. >> Was it just a coincidence that we happened to be singing in that >> particular >> coffee shop on that particular November night? Coincidence that this >> wonderful >> lady just happened to walk into that particular shop? Coincidence that of >> all the hymns to choose from, I just happened to pick the very hymn that >> was >> the favorite of her daughter, who had died just the week before? I refuse >> to >> believe it. >> God has been arranging encounters in human history since the beginning of >> time, and it's no stretch for me to imagine that he could reach into a >> coffee >> shop in midtown Manhattan and turn an ordinary gig into a revival. It was >> a >> great reminder that if we keep trusting him and singing his songs, >> everything's >> gonna be okay. >> The next time you feel like GOD can't use you, just remember... >> Noah was a drunk >> Abraham was too old >> Isaac was a daydreamer >> Jacob was a liar >> Leah was ugly >> Joseph was abused >> Moses had a stuttering problem >> Gideon was afraid >> Sampson had long hair and was a womanizer >> Rahab was a prostitute >> Jeremiah and Timothy were too young >> David had an affair and was a murderer >> Elijah was suicidal >> Isaiah preached naked >> Jonah ran from God >> Naomi was a widow >> Job went bankrupt >> John the Baptist ate bugs >> Peter denied Christ >> The Disciples fell asleep while praying >> Martha worried about everything >> The Samaritan woman was divorced, more than once >> Zaccheus was too small >> Paul was too religious >> Timothy had an ulcer...AND >> Lazarus was dead! >> No more excuses now!! >> God can use you to your full potential. >> Besides you aren't the message, you are just the messenger. >> God bless >> >> Delma >> >> >> > > > > > > > > -- > No virus found in this incoming message. > Checked by AVG Free Edition. > Version: 7.5.488 / Virus Database: 269.13.28/1023 - Release Date: > 9/22/2007 1:27 PM > > --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ Access the Recipes And More list archives at: http://www.mail-archive.com/recipesandmore%40googlegroups.com/ Visit the group home page at: http://groups.google.com/group/RecipesAndMore -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
