the silence that brought song.
By eugene kim, reston, va.
It was the second week of middle school.
A cold early Tuesday morning, in Ms. C's 7th grade math class.
It was quiet. The teacher was running late for some reason.
Before the class started I remember the teacher telling the class in a hushed voice.
"I know there are rumors going around. Here's what is happening. The twin towers in New York city have been destroyed and the Pentagon has been bombed. But don't worry you can feel safe here. you are safe here.."
I was feeling a lot of things. safe wasn't one of them.
This is how my day began. A cold early Tuesday morning, September 11th 2001
Let's review. I'm 11 years old. And my teacher just told me the nation's capitol has just been bombed. I live in Reston, VA. Washington D.C. is less than half an hour away. The all knowing eight grader sitting next to me chimes in to tell me that there's going to be more. probably bigger bombs. And if the next bomb is a nuke. “we’re all goners”
in that very moment. I was terrified.. I was just a kid back then. I was feeling small, vulnerable and weak, worst of all I was speechless. I needed something to lean on. There was no comforting/inspirational Calendar with bible verses I could read. Or any good friends who could tell me everything will be alright.
I needed words. I remember all I could come up with is a song I heard on the radio on the bus ride to school. An old Sum41 song.
"I don't want to waste my time
become another casualty of society.
I'll never fall in line
Become another victim of your conformity
And back down."
It was sad. The best I could come up with is the empty anthem of self reliance and rebellious independence from ‘the man’. And from there on, there was only silence. The day was sad. From then on I was dedicated to immersing myself in music. Music became something greater than my troubles, my fears, my self.
Music became something profoundly spiritual.
and all that is spiritual there is song.
A song that teaches.
Delirious? Taught me there is something bigger than the air I breathe, and this world we’ll leave. SanctusReal taught me that I need to confess that I’m not alright. And honestly I’m not that strong. Tim Hughes reminds us when hope is lost, there’s someone to call savior, when pain surrounds there’s someone to call healer, when silence falls, there is a song within our hearts.
And most importantly philosopher M.C. Hammer tells us that we are 2 legit 2 quit.
Even then David Crowder is just trying to make me sing even though it might be all I can say.
As time went on I learned more songs
Songs that comfort, that heal, that nurture. Melodies that brought peace.
And now I’ve gone on to start writing my own song.
in the hopes that one day I could help bring words to someone else's silence.
bring hope.
If I could go back in time, there are so many things I would want to tell the 7th grader me: stop believing in cooties, eat more vegetables, don’t get into that fight with Brandon in gym, ask that one girl to the 8th grade ball..
But looking back. I wouldn’t want to fill the silence on that cold early Tuesday morning.
cause without it I would’ve never learned what its like to be with out music, to be with out a song.
read more stories...
back to community homepage...
+ Add Comment(
Show Form |
Hide Form )
