Out from the warmth, out in the cold

Bitingly cold temperatures were undoubtedly one of the reasons Lighthouse Mission had a very full house this evening. Located in downtown Bellingham, Lighthouse is the only walk-in rescue mission between Everett, WA and Vancouver BC. Its programs, which include medical care, housing, counseling, job training, as well as food and shelter, work to help break the cycle of homelessness. The Mission is open 7 days a week, 24 hours a day.

This was the fifth year in a row that Allegra has come to bring music to the Mission's halls. The room tonight was filled with men and women (but mostly men) bundled in multiple layers of heavy clothing and blankets. Some slept on the floor, many appeared tired and weary, while others watched with anticipation for our musical program to begin.

We sang with all our hearts; and from the tears, the closed eyes, the smiles, and the comments from our audience ("This is intense!"), I felt we sang well and the musical energy in the room was strong and palpable.

Our gift of music was a short-lived moment, but I believe that for this one brief hour, all of us there, audience as well as singers, were lifted up from ourselves by the power of music and its ability to soothe and heal and inspire.