Like apples of gold in settings of silver
Is a word spoken in right circumstances.
— Proverbs 25:11
As iron sharpens iron,
so one person sharpens another.
— Proverbs 27:17
Day 4! We rise early today for a gig at McGee’s Crossroads Middle School, where we sing to two-hundred or so 8th graders. They are restless and boisterous, such a fun group to have as an audience.
When we return from our early morning gig, Dongho leads us in morning devotionals. It is from 1 Corinthians 12; about the united body of Christ made of many parts, each of which is indispensable. When we come together to discuss the passage, we affirm one another with encouragements. Each of us cross products are blessed with gifts from the Lord – whether that be a gift of memeing, of wisdom, or of a kind ear and a trustworthy support. What a feeling it is to hear words of affirmation from a friend! The encouragement is precious and uplifting to our spirits.
Brief Interlude
*John’s parents give us bubble solution as a gift*
Barry: You know what they say take nothing but pictures and leave nothing by traces of bubble solution
We then head out to Smithfield Rescue Mission, a center dedicated to helping financially-unstable men and women break the cycle of poverty. Their responses to our music abound in appreciation. I’m encouraged that we have touched them – at least if only for this day. Matthew reminds me that that every gig we perform is a miracle from God to the people who receive our musical blessing. But I can’t help but wonder, why do we come to this place, to sing for these people? Why is it us, the ones God uses to bless them? If God had a miracle planned for today, then surely there would be someone else to deliver it, if it weren’t us?
We converse with fellows at Smithfield rescue mission.
“We’re a group of college students who are choosing to go to a random place just to sing about God. People see that. And that alone can be a pretty powerful ministry.” ~ Matthew
We drive to Eno River state park; the scenery unfolds like a painting; pink-petaled trees blend into the rippling grays of naked deciduous, all positioned against a background of green pine. At the park, we embark on a trail. The woods around us sparkle in shades of silver, pale ghostly leaves clinging to bare branches. Young pine saplings burst out of their shoots in a spray of tender green. The Eno river, a rippling slate of gray, dances on by. A great blue heron contentedly sits atop a large rock in the current, which splits the water into two pieces around it. A wood-and-cable bridge oscillates as 11 xprods cross it one-by-one or two-by-two. A light rain begins to dazzle the scenery. Nature seems to give us all life, although we are exhausted and sleep-deprived. It brings our honest selves out of our shells, and frees us to make meaningful conversation with each other the entire hike.
xprods exploring with mirthful expressions.
Some of us go to Starbucks after the Eno River hike.
Yeye: Barry, do you judge the quality of a town by whether or not they have Starbucks?
Barry: It’s an important litmus test!
Brief Interlude
“I think Craig may be the lady killer but I am the puppy killer. And John is a pacifist” – Barry
We close out the day with a concert gig with Duke’s Christian a cappella group, Something Borrowed Something Blue (lovingly nicknamed (sb)^2 by us fellow xprods). In case you were wondering about their group name – it’s an excerpt from an old english rhyme about certain objects a bride should carry on her wedding day as good luck charms: “something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue, a sixpence in your shoe.” We enjoy a meal with them in their dining center, which happens to be a fantastic structure of glass and wood and steel embedded into a shell of gothic-style architecture. What a beautiful campus.
the York Room, our concert venue; iconic duke postcard photo; the absolutely gorgeous dining hall
Brief Interlude
“Sorry, I can’t. I have anchovies flickering in my head” – Craig
The concert is brilliant, and the acoustics of the York room in Duke’s school of Divinity are magnificent. Our voices echo with a beautiful hollowness around the hall – but even so, Craig still won’t tone down the reverb, reverb, reverb. (sb)^2 knocks our socks off with their own rendition of You Will Be Found from the Broadway musical Dear Evan Hansen, which we also happen to be singing; as well as a mashup of How He Loves by David Crowder and Good Good Father by Christ Tomlin; and Touch The Sky by Hillsong United. Afterwards, we break it down with a beatbox bash / spontaneous singfest led by John, and Newton from (sb)^2. Things get real hype real quick – a few of us jump in with grooves and tunes of their own; Jessica starts struttin’ her sick dance moves; and Matthew wife-carries Peter, from (sb)^2, over to the group in order to encourage him to show off his own outrageously awesome beats. We encourage each other with our enthusiasm – it’s a music, a joy, an excitement that can only come from God.
hanging out with (sb)^2 after the concert with McD’s and milkshakes.
<3,
Erica
As iron sharpens iron,
so one person sharpens another.