emerging mosaic

The   Jazz Theologian has done it again . His post looking and the synergy between Christian community and jazz ensembles is profound and thought provoking. One person should not be that brilliant  He quotes Ann Pederson, Associate Professor of Religion on jazz community

"Jam sessions set the musicians free to take risks. Diverse cross sections of people come together to just play and learn from one another. The jam session remains an open system where diverse people with diverse talents can come together to learn." "Learning occurs individually through the support of the jazz community. ‘Overall, the jazz community’s educational system sets the students on paths of development directly related to their goal: the creation of a unique improvisational voice with the jazz tradition.’ The jazz community exemplifies the constant struggle between leadership and following, interdependence and individual freedom. The goal of a jazz community is to find the balance where the individual’s freedom to improvise is grounded in the support of the ensemble. The individual plays freely but within the group. Limits are set for the dynamic of freedom." "…the group lends its support as each member learns to discover her or his own musical voice."

Then he asks How’d you like to learn to follow Jesus in that kind of environment?

My response I would love to learn to follow Jesus in that kind of a setting. Wat he describes is the very essence of the covenant community that is at the center of the theological expression in which I was trained. each individual is valued and recognized as a child of God with unique gifts perspectives and expressions of God’s image but interdependent on each other to fully express and reach our potential as God created us.

Too bad most Christian community isn’t like that. I need to think about how my faith community can move more intentionally in that direction.

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Technorati Tags: christian_community, diversity, faith & culture, interdependence, jazz_theology, music, spiritual-practice

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