Jesus says...for God all things are possible. ~Matthew 19:26
From all that is broken,
let there be beauty,
From all that is torn, jagged, ripped, frayed,
let there be not just mendings
but meetings unimagined.
May God in whom nothing is wasted
gather up every scrap, every shred and shard,
and make of them
new paths, doorways, worlds.
~Jan Richardson
Favio Chavas is music director of an orchestra in Caterua, Paraguay, a slum that is built on a landfill. For their livelihood, 2500 families separate garbage for recycling. A report from UNICEF states that 1500 tons of waste arrives each day in the landfill. Favio Chavez, explains, "The world sends us garbage. We send back music". In the midst of the landfill and extreme poverty, making music brought hope to the youth and the community. The musical instruments were made from scraps found in the dump. For example, Juan Manuel Chavez, has a cello created out of an old oil can and cooking utensils. New paths, doorways, and worlds opened up to the youth as they traveled around the world sharing their music with recycled instruments. (Landfill Harmonic Trailer)
As we journey nearer the cross with Jesus this season of Lent, we are reminded that sometimes life is difficult and dark. It leaves its mark on us, like ashes of grief and pain. Sometimes we don't see how the circumstances will ever change. Yet even in times of despair, even when we think all is lost, we still hold on to hope that God is with us. God's light can still shine through the brokenness and ashes and transform it to beauty.
Song: Cape Town Youth Choir, prayer for peace in the world - Ukuthula
Prayer:
Grandfather,
Look at our brokenness.
Only the human family has strayed from the Sacred Way.
We know that we are the ones who are divided
And we are the ones who must come back together
to walk in the Sacred Way.
Grandfather, Sacred One,
Teach us love, compassion, and honor,
That we may heal the Earth
and heal each other.
~Ojibway prayer, Canada (native Canadian)
Reflection:
What signs of beauty in the ashes have you witnessed during these weeks of Lent?
How might you help to bring beauty in the midst of this difficult time?
How has the music of the Landfill Harmonic Orchestra or the music of the Cape Town youth touched you?
Resource:
Tsioulcas, A. (Dec. 19, 2012). The Landfill harmonic: An Orchestra Built from Trash, Deceptive Candence, NPR Classical.
Mashurova, N. (Dec 12, 2012). Landfill Harmonic: A Story of Creativity, Hope, and Endurance [Interview]
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