My Night with India

Last November, when it was still safe to travel, Mark and I made plans to see Rob Bell's, "An Introduction to Joy." While neither of us ever expressed a hankering to visit Nashville, it remained the only venue with pre-show Q&A seats available. True to form, Bell delivered a thoughtful, provocative, and hilarious message. But, as so often happens when we travel to see a show, the highlight of our trip happened elsewhere.

In October, we adopted a cat. In the prior three years, four of our cats died. Each a heart-breaker, as you might imagine. When we were running low on furry companionship (down to two), we adopted Gracie. Once she earned "last cat standing" status, we opened to the possibility of a new feline family member. That's when Mark fell in love with Ida.

We found Ida at the Salem Animal Rescue League. We'd never been to this shelter before, but they run a lovely organization. We discovered Ida, formerly Harley, in the "quiet zone." Labeled "a bit skittish," she shared the room with only one other cat. To soothe these felines, SARL provided a soundtrack of meditation music in the background. I'd never seen this done at another shelter, and believed it a great idea.

As Ida got acclimated to her new home, I borrowed the music idea. I selected a meditation playlist on Spotify to serenade her through the transition. I switched it up a bit, after a few days, increasing the energy of daytime music, moving from Enya to India Arie.

Bringing Arie into the room, I remembered how much I loved the few songs I knew of hers, and through Ida, got introduced to others I'd never heard before. I wondered if India Arie might be touring at all, because I suspected she'd be lovely to see and hear in person. I looked for dates, and what did I find? Only two scheduled performances...in Nashville...the second of which would happen the evening we landed. Hmm...

I'll admit, despite the energy of "divine intervention," I hesitated. Would Mark be on board? Should we spend the extra money? Would we even make the show on time, if the flight got delayed? Since I'm so short, did I even want to go to a show, if I couldn't be close enough to see? Self-perpetuated shadows of doubt clouded my clarity.

Ultimately, Mark said he was up for it, and agreed to the odd seats I selected. They were close, but behind the artist. I told Mark, "Okay, if you're sure you're into it, would you buy the tickets, while I take a shower?"

We arrived in Nashville without a hitch. Collected our rental car, grabbed a bite to eat, a block away from the Schermerhorn Symphony Center, and queued up with the other audience members for our security and ticket scan. That's when we learned, Mark accidentally purchased seats for the previous night!

Evidently, Mark hit a snag with the Ticketmaster site, requiring a reload. Unfortunately, the site took him to the first scheduled performance, instead of the show we'd actually be in town to see. At a loss, with our useless tickets in hand, security directed us to the box office, to seek a resolution.

The box office swarmed with folks at "will call" attempting to enter before Arie took the stage in a few short minutes. After snaking through the velvet ropes, we made our way to an open window. The woman seemed keen to help us, but wasn't sure how to make the exchange. Asking a supervisor, we learned we were not afforded an exchange option, because we hadn't purchased directly through the symphony site. However, if we wanted to purchase tickets for that evening's performance, we were welcome to do so.

There we stood. Mark completely prepared to pay one and a half times the ticket price we'd already shelled out to see an artist he barely knew, and me, the one who received the "call" to attend the event, hesitating...again. Finally, I shuffled on board, because other patrons waited for an open window, and the clock ticked ever closer to show time.

We sat in the exact seats I'd picked out for us days before. The ones I avoided buying, by sloughing off the purchase on Mark. 

Lesson #1 of this evening: "When I get the hit to take action on something, I need to choose for myself. I may not defer the decision to another."

The entire orchestra entered the stage and settled. Moments later, India Arie made her way from the wings, costumed in one of several beautiful outfits.  We later learned, Arie's mother designs all of her couture. This elegant, poised artist spoke to her audience about the "Songversation" we'd collectively engage in over the course of the evening, in celebration of her newest album, "Worthy."

Prior to launching into the second number, I witnessed something extraordinary. Arie explained this marked her first moment on stage that Friday, and she needed a little help before continuing with the show. She waited a few beats, and asked again, "Can I get a stage hand? I need to reorganize a little out here." A 30-something guy garbed in monochromatic black jeans and t-shirt scooted onto the stage. There, India asked him to move a guitar from her left side to her right; move the mic stand a bit; then, to adjust another small piece of equipment a touch closer. I watched in awe.

Here was a woman, willing to ask for help, and wait until help arrived. There is absolutely no doubt in my mind, that she could have easily moved those few light-weight items herself. Yet, she knew her rightful place! Moving the guitar was a job for someone else. 

Lesson #2 - "Even when I can do something myself, I need to recognize what my rightful place is, and ONLY act in accordance with that. This means, I must be willing to vulnerable (and possibly uncomfortable), by asking for help, even if it means hundreds of people shall watch and wait, as I stand in my rightful place."

With guitar adjusted, India slung it across her body in anticipation of the next song. Except, since there'd been no sound check that day, it wasn't working. Again, she asked for help. This time, she turned to the symphony behind her, and identified a guitarist. After requesting his name, she asked if Matt would be willing to support her on this number. She'd intended it to be a solo, but since that wasn't working out, she hoped he might pitch in. Matt agreed without apparent hesitation. Then, Arie played both conductor and songstress. While facing the audience, she used her right hand to indicate what she wanted from the guitar behind her, simultaneously giving her soul to the song. It just so happened to be my favorite tune of hers, "I Am Light."

As India wound her way through the lyrics, tears rained down my cheeks. Something about being in the presence of this live energy, the notes reaching out to caress my heart. I filled with love and gratitude. And then the next bit of magic happened.

India.Arie Sings "I Am Light" | SuperSoul Sessions

One line of the song, "I'm not the mistakes that I have made," starts the second verse. The third verse begins, "I am not the color of my eyes," except, during this amazing evening, Arie inadvertently opened the third verse with "I'm not the mistakes that I have made." Then she paused. She spun herself in a tight circle, and picked up the true third verse again, and completed the song.

Lesson #3 - "Learning to pivot is imperative. Things will NOT always go as I plan. This does not equal failure. Instead, it's an opportunity to stretch, to build the musculature of my flexibility. I am allowed to make a mistake - to fall down in some way - and to meet the stumble with a course correction, by getting back up, and creating a new moment."

I leaned over to Mark after "I Am Light," and whispered, "This was worth every penny. And, in fact, I'm not sure I would have appreciated it as much, had we not paid two and a half times the usual ticket price for these seats." He kissed me on the head and replied, "I'm glad you're enjoying it, sweetie."

India Arie - “What If”

Near the end of the show, Arie offered a song I'd not heard before. It was accompanied by visual images on the big screen. Again, my tears flowed. This song, "What If," strikes me as, especially, poignant at this moment in history. I perceive it as an anthem of the change, justice, and world we seek to manifest. Remembering it, reminded me of all the other teachings I absorbed in my night with India. I feel humbly grateful for the fullness of the experience.

With love and hope,

Joanne Lutz