During my car drive down here to Palm Beach this week (the second in two weeks!), I was listening to NPR and was fascinated by a piece on All Things Considered.
It was about world-renowned violinist Joshua Bell, who was asked to perform during rush hour commuter traffic in the Metro in Washington, DC. It was an experiment set up by the Washington Post to see if anyone would take time to notice the grand music flowing through the sub-terranean corridors of public transportation.
Many just went on through the station, without hesitation or acknowledgement of the beautiful music playing.
It suddenly donned on me one of the times I stopped to hear the music.
I was a freshman in college when some friends and went on quite an adventure through the streets of New Orleans. A friend's dad was there for a convention and got us a hotel room right in the Quarter.
After a night you'd expect in New Orleans (I'll keep this PG-rated), we were slowly sobering up and had the munchies. If you live in the Deep South and you're wasted or high, you learn only one thing satisfies a late night craving... Krystals.
As we made our way down Bourbon Street and got closer to Krystals, I could hear this angelic voice getting nearer. As we walked closer, I saw it was a woman just across the street from the burger joint, singing somberly, yet with such heart and emotion.
I didn't want to move, so I sent my friend inside while I stood outside to hear her sing the gospel, her rich voice amplifying beyond the narrow streets and old buildings.
When she sang "Amazing Grace," I could feel my heart race.
Next time, when you hear the music, take a moment and appreciate it as one of life's pure simple joys.
