singing diary
Retirement Homes are such unlikely places for a singer with self respect to go into, and yet… To begin with, (a large) part your audience is either half asleep or mentally not quite there. Some residents make constant noise, talking to themselves, or even shouting at nobody. Recently in the middle of my set, this lady loudly proclaimed that she had to go the bath room. At first I ignored her and simply carried on, but there was no member of staff in the room and she kept declaring her need. A conviction came on me that if I didn’t respond, we were going to have more serious trouble right there. So when I had finished singing, I left the room for a few brief moments, to alarm a member of staff. Other times members of staff congregate in the back of the room, usually talking to each other loudly. Often they walk right into the audience during the ’show’ and start giving people their medicine or food, or talking with them loudly. Announcements come through the PA system in the building loud & clear. At one time the fire alarm went off; it was so loud, people had to cover their ears. Other times I’ve performed in open plan spaces; the ‘hall’ is also a corridor, and all kinds of people walk right through usually oblivious to the fact that there’s a presentation going on.
AND YET! In these UNLIKELY PLACES the Holy Spirit often moves in remarkable ways, because many residents are HUNGRY for GOD. It reminds me of doing STREET SHOWS in Trafelgar Sqare, London, with heavy traffic all around the center where we were performing. There were constant sirens from police cars and ambulances driving right past, AND YET!! Because there were HUNGRY-for-GOD people watching our street theatre, the Spirit moved and created a still & holy space around us (performers & audience). Same in the Retirement Homes. Often when walking into these places, it feels like you’ve come to the wrong building; and yet, once the music & the telling begins, the Holy Spirit moves over the people and something very precious happens; every time!
Never mind going into an expensive building with excellent facilities etc. finding that the people are hard hearted, not hungry for God, but picky & judgmental. No move of the Spirit here! I’ve been there a few times, and have no desire to go there again. Usually those are the places where the money is. Those people think they’ve got it all, and they don’t want you to ruffle their feathers.
Nov.28th, Sunrise Village in Tampa. Another ‘unlikely place’; the Holy Spirit moved beautifully.
Dec.1st, Tender Loving Care, Lakeland. I’ve been here many times before. A wonderful steady little crowd. I did the story of Jacob, which they very much appreciated. I struggle to stay within the one hour time limit. An excellent morning.
Dec.2nd, Hanna Oaks in Tampa. A very unlikely place and a wonderful move of the Spirit.
Dec.5th, Lake Morton Plaza, Lakeland. 2nd time in this place. When I was here before, an excellent little crowd turned up who very much enjoyed the story of Moses. Today, the story of Jacob, equally compelling material. While singing I can see the Spirit washing over the people. This place would be ready for me to visit more regularly (like once a month).
Dec.9th, Excell Rehab in Tampa. A new experience today… The Activities Director with whom I’ve arranged the date for me to come in, is not there. I rang her the day before, and left a message, since she didn’t answer her phone. When I arrive I hear that the Act. Dir. is not there; she wasn’t there yesterday either, nobody has heard my phone message, and they were not expecting me. Even so, they’re prepared to go ahead, but they are also having an early Christmas dinner at lunch time (I’m there in the morning). In all the business & rushing we forget to talk about timing. I was scheduled to sing from 10.30 until 11.30 AM, and I’m assuming that that’s still OK. To my dismay I’m finding that at 11.15 the staff re beginning to roll my audience (in the wheel chairs) out of the room. The assistant Act. Dic. indicated that I should finish, and within minutes the last few members of my audience are being taken out of the room while I sing the last song, Aaron’s Blessing, having skipped 3 songs that should have come first. A very odd experience! They needed to get ready for their special dinner, and expected me to finish at 10.15 AM. Never mind, I still LOVE going into these UNLIKELY PLACES, where I come in to minister under the guise of entertainment.
Tags: Retirement Home, singing, spirit, story telling, trusting God, unlikely places
