St. Bartholomew, Patron of the I-Pod Shuffle Button

Sometimes I marvel at how perfectly my I-pod shuffle setting can mirror my mood, how it plays the songs I need to hear at just the right moment - whether I need some wistful wallowing love songs, or homey folk guitar that has me dreaming of road trips and camping, or the perfect praise song that directs my heart and mind back to everything that I know is true. Granted, there are also the days when I find myself endlessly skipping past the random Russian/Spanish/French lessons, legnthy sermon podcasts or some of my infinite collection of This American Life downloads.

This morning, however, I got a gift from whomever is the patron saint of the shuffle.

As you might have picked up from the earlier post on my missing the moutains, I've been a bit glum this week. I know this is true when I'm more than usually depressed by the tastelessness of Lithuanian white cheese and find myself composing odes in praise of Wisconsin chedder. Or when I get teary listening to a stupid Alison Krauss remake of Dolly Parton's "9 to 5" because the rendition is such a perfect blend of swingy, honky-tonk piano and old-timey country sound that I begin to unilaterally praise the genius and soul of all American roots music!

So, into this wallowy homesick state dropped a gem. It's cold. It's grey. It's February in Lithuania, but suddenly the strains of U2's "Gloria" - and I mean the live version, with the crowd applause echoing off the walls of Red Rocks ampitheatre, with Bono announcing "this is Gloria!" to a thunder of cheers - begin to penetrate my brain. It's messy guitar and brash vocals; it's the famous "Under a Blood Red Sky," album, recorded in my home state of Colorado long ago in the early 80s. Midway through the song, Bono shouts out, "Hey! This is Red Rocks!"

I'm walking along Misko gatve, trying not to miss the bus, trying not to slip on ice, and beginning to feel my heart take flight. Images of red rock, and a prairie full of lights like a galaxy spun out over wheat fields, and taut sky cool in summer, and sage smell filter into my snow-bound, ice-crusted senses. I remember what it felt like to be flying apart at the seams. I remember the way I felt the day I was offered the job at LCC, the way I KNEW in my heart that this was the next road for me to travel. I remembered how this music played a part in my heart's filling back then almost 2 years ago. The song brought it all back, lifted my head up, reminded me of the intoxicating joy that comes with knowing you are following God's call.

I try to sing this song
I, I try to stand up
But I can't find my feet
I try, I try to speak up
But only in you I'm complete

Glori, in te domine
Gloria, exultate
Gloria, gloria
Oh lord, loosen my lips

I try to sing this song
I, I try to get in
But I can't find the door
The door is open
You're standing there
You let me in

Gloria, in te domine
Gloria, exultate
Oh lord, if I have anything, anything at all
I give it to you
I give it to you

Gloria, in te domine
Gloria, gloria
Gloria, in te domine
Gloria, gloria