A bit of Sweden in Madrid

And just in time, too. I was beginning to have withdrawals. See, it went like this: Sweden, then the wonderfully quintessential Madrid weekend of friends, tapas, and very late nights, then - Monday.

Monday came with a vengeance, with a 2-day old headache, with an hour and twenty minute commute to cancelled classes and mandatory conferences.

Oh, Monday.

When she rises to her full height and rears her ugly head, few forces in this world can compare.

Enter José Gonzalez & the Göteborg String Theory. When I finally arrived at the gorgeous old Teatro Lope de Vega after hours of scrambling and organizing, I folded myself into that plush, velvety-red cushioned seat, looked Monday straight in the eye, and said to her:

"Chill."



Yeah, I was there.

And yes, it was transcendent; and no, the videos cannot capture what it means to be wrapped in the sonic embrace that is a José Gonzalez & The Göteborg String Theory concert. Do you realize that there exists music of such exquisite beauty, such substance and weight, that you feel you could step out into it and not fall? Can you tell that I had such spiritual revelation at this concert that I felt I encountered Jesus there?

Yes, it really was that good. And the revelation I got is that the piercing beauty and near-perfection of this music I try to describe is a mere shadow of the beautiful and perfect love of a God who always has and always will love us perfectly, passionately and wholly. It is a mere shadow of a shadow.

This God who pursues us as we reject Him, avoid Him, deny Him. This God who forgave us even as we nailed Him to a cross. This God who shows mercy to the humble sinner & chastises the arrogant, power-abusing religious leaders. This God who promises to teach us the "unforced rhythms of grace." This God who requires us to believe in that exquisite beauty, that substance and weight of glory. Who requires us to step out into faith. Who won't let us fall.

I am loved, and so I love. I have received, and so I give. He laid down His divinity, and so I lay down my life. I can't see very far down this dimly-lit, narrow path, but I know He surrounds me, and it is enough.

Thank you, Monday.