Another weekend, another concert. On Saturday afternoon we were at a birthday in Whangaparaoa, then had to drive all the way to Howick in the pouring rain to see Paul Ubana Jones live in concert. I had booked these tickets months ago, before I knew we would be in Whangaparoa in the pouring rain that day. It seemed like a good idea at the time.
I supposed I have journeyed with the music of Paul Ubana Jones since friends in Raetihi introduced me to him about 33 years ago. I've watched him perform four times and bumped into him on Waiheke for a chat. I've had three separate careers during that time, he's just stuck with the music; African influenced blues-folk, with a robust fingerstyle, mostly. One thing in common is that we both had much darker hair 33 years ago! These smaller gigs are good because you can easily get to chat with the performer, and help him find his vital missing guitar string peg when one breaks and pings away (you're welcome).
Familiar things that we spend a long time taking an interest in are good, they can inform the different phases of life, and we learn to appreciate their subtleties over time.
Advent reminds us that God is with us, and we are with God. We can appreciate the Advent show with Christmas lights and fake snow, we can listen to the grand gospel narrative and see the star over Bethlehem. But there is an intimacy and assurance in the knowledge that we can truly be in conversation with the Prince of Peace, Emmanuel, God with us. Shalom
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