Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things. Philippians 4:8

Sometimes all it takes is one simple question to make us realize what we have been doing wrong. Perhaps wrong is not the right word, maybe I should say an area in which we are lacking in our ministry. The question is simple; “What is lyrical singing?”

Bruna asked this question. She overheard a conversation I was having with another woman who was training to be an opera singer. I drew a blank. I did not know how to explain to her what lyrical singing was because everything associated with this is foreign to her life experience. Then I realized that Bruna was standing next to us and we were talking about music and beautiful operas and she had no reference to any of these things. We wanted her to be part of our conversation but she needed some references. Her question was an attempt to construct a metaphorical bridge. Unfortunately I could not give the necessary materials. She sensed my awkwardness and then pretended to know what I was talking about. This wasn’t enough. Then I remembered that a few months ago, a street performer stood in front of where we do activities with the children and started singing with this incredibly powerful voice famous songs from various Italian operas. The teens were astonished by her vocals and they just stood and watched her in absolute wonderment. Wanderson was so impressed that he gave her some of his money. He said that he preferred to spend it on her than to use it on drugs. He was exposed to something better and different and he wanted to be part of it. I reminded Bruna of this woman and I told her that lyrical singing is this special kind of singing. She understood immediately. She smiled. She was part of our conversation now. She asked if we could take her to watch a presentation with lyrical singing one day. This was the first time any of the teens requested such a thing.

I am grateful for this strange but gifted woman who chose to sing to the homeless on that day. Now, Bruna and the other teens have a reference of a beautiful artistic expression. I remember Wanderson kept saying that her voice penetrated his entire being. This is a good way of describing it. It permeated our whole being. It brought out certain sentiments in Wanderson and the teens that made them realize at least for a moment, that there are better and more beautiful things than their ‘drugs’.

We talked about abundant life because it is the essence of the gospel. However, how can our children and teens imagine abundant life when all they see around them is hatred, destruction, and death? The streets are filled with preachers who yell about eternal punishment and death. The gospel that these people preach is an escape from destruction, but they don’t promote abundant life. Churches are fixated with the ugly and unpleasant things of life which they call the “signs” of the end without any indication that the end is the beginning of beauty and peace. In the past, churches used to be magnificent buildings full of color and beauty, representing in a concrete manner the majesty and infiniteness of God. Today, most churches are pragmatic in their appearance and beauty has taken the back seat. However, abundant life is not a pragmatic life. It is life full of beauty, peace, virtue and goodness. It is the stuff of life that makes life wonderful and great. It is something even the poorest of the poor can experience and appreciate. Unfortunately, today we focus more on what the poor lack and not on what they possess.

The New Testament exhorts a different path. It challenges us to meditate on the beauty and the good. Our children and teens know death and devastation. They need to see things that are beautiful, things that are pure, virtuous and good. If not, they won’t have any reference. If they don’t any reference, then they cannot imagine themselves living a life that pursues these things.

Recently, Bruna received a letter from her friend in Florida. In the letter, there was a postcard from a place called Bamberg in Germany. I had the privilege of a spending a week there many years ago. Whenever I think about a beautiful city, I think about Bamberg. The postcard gave Bruna a glimpse of the beauty of the place. She started asking and talking about beautiful places nearby the city of São Paulo. She said that she wanted to see beautiful historic buildings like the ones in the postcard. We talked about a possible excursion to a nearby historic town. She was delighted when she heard this. The idea of experiencing beauty excited her. It took a simple postcard to ignite this desire.

Well, it is not the postcard really, it was the love that came with it. Bruna did not feel jealous when she saw the beautiful places her friend from Florida visited. She wanted to experience what this person experienced. She was interested in lyrical singing because I was excited when I talked about it. She wanted to be part of this excitement. Love opens the door for others to experience the beauty that is in the world. Bruna would have never heard of Bamberg if it wasn’t for the love that inspired the other person to share the pictures with her.

Our simple conversation with Bruna has inspired us to think about bringing more beauty to the lives of our children. They desire to know more beautiful things and places but they need to go these places and experience these things holding the hands of someone they love. They have been so accustomed to a life void of color and joy that they are not sure if they can participate in the beauty that is in the world. The fact that Bruna asked to go to a concert with us or visit a historic city is a major step. For the first time in her life, she feels confident that she too can enjoy these beautiful things of life. It is a just a few steps from here where she will realize that the promise of abundant life is a possibility for her too.