“Music is well said to be the speech of angels.” —-Thomas Carlyle
This evening, as the music cued to begin the semi-final round for The American Military Spouse Choir performing for America’s Got Talents this evening, I received a text. The text read, “We have a baby!” and it was from my beautiful niece. She welcomed her beautiful baby angel into the world tonight RIGHT as the music started for this wonderful choir of ours. What a special moment.
Cue the soloist for AMSC.
Spend all your time waiting for that second chance
For the break that will make it ok
There’s always some reason to feel not good enough
And it’s hard at the end of the day
I need some distraction oh beautiful release
Memories seep from my veins
Let me be empty and weightless and maybe
I’ll find some peace tonight
Initially, I thought that I could totally hear myself having said those very words in the wake of a deployment. You know, in the early days where it’s still so new all you can do is breathe in, and breathe out. And, all you need is the break. The break from waiting, to provide that anxiously needed release from the pain and loneliness of well, being alone. But, it’s elusive. It rarely arrives, does it?
Each night is fighting madness, and demons. Nay, “vultures and thieves at your back”, and
“the wreckage of your silent reverie”. The ones trying to keep you from peace, “believing your own lies.”
When peace finds you, it’s fleeting. Then the next day starts.
But you know what isn’t fleeting or momentary? What keeps us alive and thriving? Able to face the next day, able to grow, and flourish in spite of the demons chasing us at night?
Our fellow military spouses. They are the ones who shield us, encourage us and bring us back from the brink. The ones who stand there and hold us up when we can stand no longer.
As I watched our military spouse angels sing tonight, all I could think of was how lucky we are. How wonderfully, truly blessed and lucky we all are.
To. Have. Each. Other.
They were gorgeous. Flowing purple, gold sparkles and ribboned chokers with their service pins. Truly ethereal and spectacular, and they sounded A-MAY-ZING!
But, more than that. It took something special to get up there at Radio City Music Hall and sing their hearts out to represent us. Preparation meant weeks away from family, pressure from a nation and wanting to follow a dream they each pursued. A dream they, ironically, likely had to delay to be a military spouse.
So, for me? You can bet your last dollar I will find comfort there. In the arms of our choir, the arms of my fellow military spouses, in the arms of my friends.
In the arms of the angels.