the stranger

On Sunday Jessie and I had the pleasure of attending the Sufjan Stevens concert at the Paramount Theatre in Seattle. The experience was breath-taking and probably the best concert I have seen.

The band/orchestra/choir came out wearing colourful masks, scout uniforms, and butterfly wings like adults who rediscovered their childhood, but Sufjan was wearing a spread of fiery eagle wings. He and his players used a myriad of instruments including violins, violas, a cello, guitars, drums, bells, trumpets, a trombone, keys, and a saw.

Sufjan performed songs from the last three of his albums. Some of my favourite songs included “The Transfiguration” (of Christ), the new “Majesty, Snowbird” (download), “The Predatory Wasp Of The Palisades Is Out To Get Us!” (prefaced by Sufjan with a hilarious 10-minute story of his boyhood summer camp experience), and “Chicago” (as an encore). During “The Man of Metropolis Steals Our Hearts”, the band and their crew threw dozens of half-life-size blow-up Superman dolls (complete with real capes) into the crowd. These were thrown and bounced around by the crowd like beach balls at your average rock concert. The same was done with blow-up Santas during “That Was the Worst Christmas Ever!”.

My Brightest Diamond opened the concert. I would describe them as a more accessible Bjork. Check them out when the come back to Seattle on December 10th at the Showbox.

It was good to see Donovan and Tara before the show and also to see Justin Weeks as well. I’m certain that they were equally moved.

Dustin DeKoekkoek (a guy from Mars Hill) also attended and took pictures and a video.

Get up get out get away from these liars
’cause they don’t get your soul or your fire.

Take my hand knot your fingers through mine
And we’ll walk through this dark room for the last time.

Every minute from this minute now
We can do what we like anywhere.

I want so much to open your eyes
’cause I need you to look into mine.

“Open your Eyes” by Snow Patrol

Practicing faith is both the hardest and the easiest thing you will ever do in your life. It is a mix of so many emotions; when tested, one feels like screaming, crying, laughing, cursing, peeing your pants, and praising God all in the same instant. Maybe that is why a friend of mine described those gifted with faith as “out of touch with reality”. Maybe bipolar is a better description since those are the only other people who can be happy to be sad. Yet, those gifted with faith are the only people who can experience tremendous stresses and appear sane and grounded afterwards.

Faith is the easiest thing you will ever do because the very definition of it means you are growing closer to God. And growing closer to God is the most beautiful and natural experience and the closest you will get to heaven on earth.

When life’s letdowns come, the best thing one can do is talk to God. If you ask him why this jacked up stuff is happening, he’ll probably tell you that he has a plan you wouldn’t believe if he told you. He might also say that it will get much worse before it gets any better (that’s usually how things work), but that the whole thing is part of his good plan. It’s never bad to ask God questions and run to him. When things are at their worst, it’s pretty much all we can do.

Sean, Jessie, and I got back on Sunday from six days in the wilderness surrounding Mount Rainier. Check out the mini-site I made (with iWeb) to display the media: