Appreciation for the Eclectic

Our third son, Andrew, is living and working in Seattle this summer, saving money for a university semester in France later this year. He’s our “global child,” you might say, always fascinated by the larger world around him. His favorite city so far? Venice. Hands down. But, to be honest, he was charmed by Stockholm last May. India? He wants to go. And to Rio, too. And Africa. And... well, you get the idea. Suitcases and long airplane trips are no problem for him.

Maybe that’s why his taste is so eclectic in, well, just about everything. He can dress up or dress down—and be comfortable with both. He can read fiction and non-fiction and enjoy. He can eat spicy or bland. No problem. And music? Well, he likes it all.

Which brings us back to his summer in Seattle—which is, after all, kind of an eclectic place, too. Famous for the “grunge” sound, Kurt Cobain, Nirvana, Pearl Jam, and all of that, Seattle is also steeped in a proud classical tradition. Pacific Northwest Ballet, Seattle Opera, and the Seattle Symphony all rank among the nation’s best. Last week, Andrew went to a symphony concert at the stunning Benaroya Hall—a spectacular performance showcase in the heart of downtown—an architectural and acoustical wonder that opened in 1998.

One of Andrew’s cousins went along, too. They sat next to a young mom and her five-year old daughter, neither of whom they had met before. Antonin Dvorak’s Symphony No. 8 in G Major shared the bill with Paul Schoenfield’s Klezmer Rondos for Solo Flute and Chamber Orchestra. Forget the Mariner’s game at Safeco Field—this was a whole different show.

The young mom and her daughter didn’t know much about the music, but Andrew did. He explained the history and pedigree of the pieces, answered questions about the symphony, and marveled at the elegant presentation in the 2,500-seat Mark Taper Hall. He loved it. The people he met around him did, too. His cousin’s review was more mixed. The symphony wasn’t really her deal, so-to-speak, but she enjoyed exploring Benaroya for the first time with her cousin from Hoosierland, just the same. In the end, the music didn’t matter as much as the company. Family. New friends who had never met before. A new adventure, things to see, experiences to write home about.

The tickets were cheap—only $20 each. To walk through the jaw-dropping, four-story glass atrium (complete with Starbuck’s, of course), was worth that. And a glimpse of the sun setting across Elliott Bay through that glass was unforgettable. And the constant ribbon of car lights that whir around the downtown block that is Benaroya, surrounded by towering skyscrapers on three sides and Puget Sound on the other—well, very cool.

But, it was the company, the laughter, the listening, the conversation, and the relationships, that made the whole evening worthwhile.

That’s the way church should be, too, don’t you think? You may not always like the tempo of the music, or the balance of sound, or the way somebody else was “up front,” or, whatever. But, it’s the wonder of friendships—old and new—the laughter, the listening, the learning, the sharing, the relationships that make being part of a church family so worthwhile.

Benaroya is home to many genre of music. Pearl Jam—we’re talking rock with an edge here—even has an album: Live at Benaroya Hall. Jazz is big there, too. Even country. And, Chinese music (very different from the western music to which most of us are accustomed). But, the place welcomes everyone.

Madison Park is no Benaroya Hall—but, in these parts, it’s pretty close, Of course, it’s not a concert hall per se, it’s a house of worship, a house of prayer, and a meeting place for God’s people. All of ’em. That includes the ones who like the music loud—and those who like it soft. Those who like 19th century hymns and those who are drawn to today’s new tune. It includes those who like Dvorak and those who’ve never heard of him and don’t care and those, like Andrew, who like it all.

How eclectic are you? How respectful are you of the diversity of God’s church? How willing are you to defer to one another? How committed are you to the great legacy of unity and oneness that is the Church of God? Are you willing to develop friendships and worship with people whose taste may be substantially different from your own? Or, do you think everybody should just be happy with the way you like it, because, after all, it’s your hall, anyway?

Hmmm. I think it’s God’s hall. That’s why we call it the Madison Park Church of God. And, I think He has a lot more eclectic taste that I could ever imagine. And, if He’s happy, I’m happy. He is the audience, when you stop and think about it.

Maybe we just need to get out more - you know, and see the world. India? Haiti? Russia? Timbuktu? You’d be amazed at the different kinds of worship out there.

I love ya, Madison Park. All of ya. Each one. No matter what your musical trip might be.