I did that thing where someone posts ambiguous lyrics and says "it just means a lot to me right now, ok?"
Cliche as it is, that's where the title of this post came from, and really the whole song "Falling Slowly" [yes, yes, the one from Once] has meant a lot in different ways this week...even though I have no idea what the song as a whole is supposed to be about. I think maybe addiction? Listen here to decide for yourself. It really is a beautiful song.

........
Later.

Well, I promise I was actually going somewhere with that last post. Sometime soon I'll share more about direction and the future and such, but it's just too late for my thoughts to be together.

But one thing remains on my mind. Today was a tough one at Waco Arts. It just seemed like we were hit full force with the world the kids live in. Tragedy, violence, hatred, brokenness. It's just so distanced from my reality, it's mind-blowing. That Baylor bubble? it's real, and the edge is as close as a footstep.

This kind of thing simultaneously makes me wonder at the relevancy of art in the lives of these kids who face such darkness, and makes me want to keep coming, keep trying to offer them creativity and beauty.
And expression. In class today, my prof pointed out a line from a short story by James Baldwin, in which music shows itself to be a powerful force to "soothe the poison," to create a safe moment, to give beauty, but most importantly, to express. There is power in expression and sharing experiences [here in the form of storytelling.]

For, while the tale of how we suffer, and how we are delighted, and how we may triumph is never new, is always must be heard. There isn't any other tale to tell, it's the only light we have in all this darkness.

While I would argue that there is another Light to the darkness, I guess this quote gives me hope for the purpose of Waco Arts--maybe for these kids to learn how to tell their story. I wish we could do more, though.