The Blues

Lent is a good season to sing the blues. 

American blues singer Alberta Hunter reminds us:

The blues are like spirituals, almost sacred. When we sing blues, we’re singing out our hearts, we’re singing out our feelings. Maybe we’re hurt and just can’t answer back, then we sing or maybe even hum the blues. When I sing ... what I’m doing is letting my soul out.

I like this idea of "singing out our hearts," of letting our soul out.  Understood in this way, the blues can play a part in our Lenten pilgrimage. 

We expend a great deal of energy keeping portions of ourselves bottled up inside.  Singing the blues can be a form of spiritual housecleaning, a kind of release. 

Can you set aside a little time over these next few days for singing the blues?

For the journey,
Stephen+