Music for the Saddness

I met a homeless man back in November.  He had just arrived in Norman with nothing except the clothes on his back.  After spending much time together we have become good friends and now read scripture together at least one morning of the week.

His faith inspires me.  Although born and raised in Oklahoma, he is of a different culture than I and the way he sees the world reminds me to find my identity in my Creator and not my job, material things, or relationships.  He has a hunger for scripture that would make any white, middle-class, success-driven minister be jealous.  The funny thing is when he insists that I have a lot to teach him, I immediately respond with, "no, you have a lot to teach me."  And then we carry on for a few minutes like two girls do when trying to convince the other one saying, "no, you're pretty" "no, you are", "no..." and so on and so on.

Last week after we were finished reading scripture together, knowing that I play the guitar, he said, "Could you play me something on your guitar before I go?"  I told him I'd be glad to!  So we went to my office, he sat across from me and I played him the incredibly old praise song from my youth days called "Whom Shall I Fear."

The whole time he never took his eyes off of my hands.  You would have thought I was Bach playing prelude to cello suite no. 1 instead of the G, C, D, C awesomeness of praise songs.

As I was putting my guitar back into its case he said, "I think if I knew how to play an instrument I'd never be sad again."

And with that, my heart melted.