Thought for the week, 5th July; In the groove

Did you watch Rod Stewart at Glastonbury last week; still in his 80s, still doing what some call singing? Or there is the Oasis reunion concert this weekend in Cardiff, 30 years on, still making music, probably still falling out with each other backstage. I didn't watch Glastonbury and I will not be listening to Oasis; my idea of good music is Anglican plainsong. But something I have come to appreciate is passion in others for music. A few years ago I was in a pub in Nottingham; a guitarist was playing. His music meant nothing to me, but I was captivated by the man himself, totally at one with his guitar, living and moving with the sounds he was making. I suspect, at that moment, nothing else mattered for him but his music. So I suspect with the big stars who simply can't stop performing; somewhere in the mix is the sheer joy of what they are doing. I rather doubt whether my pub guitarist, Rod Stewart or the Gallagher brothers are big on organised religion. However I suspect when they perform, living for their music, they experience something spiritual that takes them from the mundane and points to the higher glory that I call God.