![\"2019](\"https:\/\/digbza2f4g9qo.cloudfront.net\/-\/media\/IndyCar\/VideoImg\/2019\/05\/05-26-Indy-500-highlights.jpg?vs=1&d=20190526T233307Z\")
<\/p>\nHere in Indiana, this weekend is, historically, a pivotal, pinnacle moment for our summer: it\u2019s Race Weekend.\u00a0 For anyone who lives outside of the orbit of Indianapolis, let me explain: in a normal world, this would be the weekend of the great Indianapolis 500. <\/p>\n
To offer a touch of perspective for those of you who marvel at the idea of people actually gathering to watch (or listen to, if you\u2019re in the black-out zone) cars whizzing around a track, Race Weekend is akin to the Boston Marathon, the Kentucky Derby, or (at the risk of another Indiana analogy), Notre Dame playing USC.<\/p>\n
Yet, like so many other plans, parties, sporting events, and conferences, our Indy Race Weekend is not happening.\u00a0 Or, at least, not yet.\u00a0 It\u2019s postponed until August when, maybe<\/em>, it will take place.\u00a0 Maybe<\/em>.<\/p>\n I suppose there are vestiges of \u201chope\u201d about the situation, if you\u2019re one of But none of this is \u201cright,\u201d and we all know this.\u00a0 So much uncertainty. So many \u201clayers,\u201d literally, of feet, breath, or masks away from those people and places we love.\u00a0 So many maybe\u2019s<\/em>, and so many more no\u2019s<\/em>.<\/p>\n Race Day aside, what have you had to say no to?\u00a0 I\u2019ve said no to travel and to family, to dentist\u2019s offices and children\u2019s programs.\u00a0 These things are all so hard to reject.\u00a0 But I\u2019m a minister, too\u2014and, most recently, I had to say no to my ministry of church music.<\/p>\n But, with much regret, I asked to be taken off the schedule.\u00a0 Not only for that weekend, but for the whole summer. \u00a0For reasons of young children, hopes of bringing them to see grandparents, and \u201cpre-existing health conditions\u201d in our family, I don\u2019t feel comfortable sitting at the piano (or the organ) bench.\u00a0 And, unlike so, so many other people, I have another full-time job.\u00a0 I have the privilege of being able <\/em>to say \u201cno.\u201d<\/p>\n What have you had to say \u201cno\u201d to?\u00a0 Perhaps more challenging, do you even have the privilege of saying \u201cno\u201d?\u00a0 Like me, do you desire to serve the Church in a time of need?\u00a0 But, unlike me, are you brave enough to do so even if you are afraid of the consequences?<\/p>\n And, so, here we are\u2014Race Day will come and go with nary a soul at the track.\u00a0 Pentecost Sunday, too, will rush by as I watch, or listen (if my eyes are captured by a toddler who wants me to watch her twirling), to the Song of the Spirit from my living room. I suppose I need to be \u201coptimistic\u201d and remember that there will, eventually, be a light at the end of the tunnel.\u00a0 In this mean time, though, it\u2019s a deafening silence\u2014not a rushing wind or even the draft off a race car\u2014that reminds us that we are still in the midst of the \u201cnot yet.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" What have you had to say no to?\u00a0 Most recently, I had to say no to my ministry of church music.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":55,"featured_media":52201,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[3119,3405,16,17,20],"tags":[3393,3418],"class_list":["post-52198","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-plaza-new-ws","category-theology","category-lay-ministry","category-liturgical-spirituality","category-music-general","tag-covid-19","tag-music-ministry"],"yoast_head":"\n![\"This](\"https:\/\/the-drive.imgix.net\/https%3A%2F%2Fs3.amazonaws.com%2Fthe-drive-staging%2Fmessage-editor%252F1527348765292-img_9800.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&ixlib=js-1.4.1&s=a9b7dc6f77e6a95eea111aba958ea0cb\")
those people who likes being optimistic.\u00a0 People in my neighborhood still have their \u201crace-day\u201d checkered flags up, and die-hards can\u00a0tune in to a T.V. special, \u201cBack Home Again,\u201d airing during the time the Race would n<\/span>ormally take place.\u00a0 Some families are even planning their annual gathering<\/span>s\u2014with appropriate attempts at social distancing in place.<\/span><\/p>\n![\"St](\"https:\/\/i.ytimg.com\/vi\/WjR-ZYQ3OEU\/maxresdefault.jpg\")
At the parish where I work, I\u2019m blessed to be one of several accompanists who serve a robust music program coordinated by a talented music director who is (paid) on staff.\u00a0 Last week, I got a call from my director, checking in on my schedule as Indiana and our Archdiocese negotiate their \u201creopening\u201d phases.\u00a0 I was scheduled to play for that pivotal, pinnacle end of the Easter season: Pentecost weekend.\u00a0 I love Pentecost\u2014it\u2019s a powerful moment in the Church\u2019s year, with music that sings the Song of the Spirit.<\/p>\n![\"Pentecost](\"https:\/\/www.crossroadsinitiative.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/anonymous-pentecost-novena.jpg\")
<\/p>\n