In this third week of Advent we are moving into a time of real anticipation: the Christmas and Advent carols are starting to feel more "right," the tinsel is glittering, and there's a feeling that the time is drawing near: we are truly making ready for the wonder and peace of Christ's birth to enter our lives once more. This week, the Advent Music Project explores: How do we make ready? What do we do (or not) to prepare for the Coming Light?
The Trumpet Child is one of my favorite Advent songs. The image of a young Jesus calling in the Reign of God with a jazz solo is an image that's hard to top, of course:
The trumpet child will riff on love
Thelonious notes from up above
He'll improvise a kingdom come...
-- Over the Rhine
-- Over the Rhine
Nonetheless, the genius of this song's image is that it plays with the wonderful alchemy that is great jazz music: improvisational jazz is a musical style that is deceptively spontaneous and chaotic. It's true, the exact flow of notes are created on the spot, but always in a framework: the other musicians have their parts, know the cues to switch keys or let someone else lead, and know the structure to the song. The best improv musicians are the ones who know how to riff on a theme or a format - not just go off on their own. So in the end, improv is actually about mutuality, cooperation, and listening as much as it is about raw talent and creativity.
The Trumpet Child by Over the Rhine (lyrics HERE)
Improv is a great metaphor for God's power and intentions in the world: God is both sovereign and mutual, creative and cooperative. God's promises are the solid framework, God's actions switch the keys, but within that structure both we and God and the forces of the natural world are "improv-ing" the present together. The good news is that our reality is neither utter chaos nor set in stone: there's room for transformation, surprise, and even delight. True, creativity and freedom can be messy (all good artwork usually is) and sometimes the notes grow discordant, but in the end, God's promises accompany us, the stories of God help us imagine new notes, and the Holy Spirit constantly guides us.
"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."
- Jeremiah 29:11
Maybe one way to anticipate and make ready for what God is revealing among us is to embrace our own creative and improvisational abilities. As someone was saying to me today: sometimes life give you exactly what you'd never want, but the trick is to figure out how to change the rules, transform the game, and make what seemed to give no life flourish. It's not easy - this is no cute "lemonade from lemons" proposition - but if God is transforming this world, may we not have faith that our own daily riffs and improvisations are a necessary part of the piece?
May we embrace our creativity and openness; our mutuality and listening; our dreams and curiosity in these days, preparing our hearts for the Advent of Christ - 'riffing on love' along with God and all of Creation.
- Anna
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