Last week I visited Madison, Wisconsin for a few days and during the trip had the opportunity to experience some live music. One of the evenings featured a jazz trio. They took turns improvising and creating beautiful and unique music. They obviously have played together before and were comfortable going off each other’s leads. Throughout their performance, I found myself immersed in the music, forgetting each individual’s instrument until one of them began playing a solo.
Watching and listening to them playing together served as an image of the I AM. Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, three but one.
This jazz trio provided a visual of how I AM has unity within community. Each of the three musicians that evening knew their part, but also knew the abilites of the others. They trusted each other and enjoyed the others’ time in the limelight. They didn’t co-opt another musician’s solo, but complimented it with complimenting rhythms and harmonies.
Throughout the Bible we find moments where each of the three are featured. The Father serves as the dominant voice thoughout the Elder Testament, interacting with patriarchs, nations, prophets, and priests. Throughout the Gospels, the Son – the incarnation of the I AM – moves to the forefront, displaying what it means to be fully human. The remainder of the Younger Testament features the work of the Holy Spirit – the wind and breath of the I AM. But never are any of them silent. From Genesis to Revelation, these three move together, creating beauty, redeeming Creation, and constantly working to restore Shalom.
Later in the show, these three musicians invited others to come to the stage and play with them, helping create music, something new that has never been played before. I AM invites each of us – and all of creation – to join them in the art of creating beauty, redeeming Creation, and constantly working to restore Shalom. We are not called to be audience members, waiting to see which song is next. We are welcomed to the stage, offered an instrument, and blessed to help make the world a better place, not according to some formula or set of rules, but rather – like good jazz – to engage our uniqueness, release our creativity, and partner with the trio who started this song in the beginning.
Breaking Into Peace 