Kumbaya

It was not our first time back at the Northeast Reintegration Center (NERC) since lockdown, but our fourth. We tried something different and performed outside under the pavilion enjoying the last bits of summer weather, as opposed to playing in the chow hall like the above photo. (If you look closely you can see the pavilion through the window!)

Tonight was a night for sing-alongs; a night to pretend we were all gathered around a fire pit singing and fellowshipping together. One of the women sat with her hands clasped in front of her face as Rebecca and I offered to pray for the women through the music of Kumbaya.

I’ve seen this woman before. I’ve spoken with her and heard her express her utter joy at getting to sit at a concert and hear live music for the first time in over a year. She had so many questions about my violin, and about my experience learning to play the instrument. She was enamored and you could see the happiness in her eyes. But tonight, I saw a mixture of happiness and sadness. I couldn’t quite put a name to the emotion I saw in her eyes.

Kumbaya means “come by here”. The words to this tune continue to say “Lord, come by here” and speak to God being with you. As Rebecca talked about the meaning behind the familiar tune, and how it was our prayer, this woman smiled big, closed her eyes, and bowed her head to pray with us as we began to play and sing. It was such a special moment praying in song together.

It is always our hope to encourage the women at NERC and to lift them up in prayer and to celebrate with them and even to lament with them. After the sing-along, this woman, with a huge smile and tears in her eyes, caught our attention, waved, and said a simple but heartfelt “thank you”.