The Homeless man and the harmonica

Some of you have asked what keeps me busy at times and why I occasionally miss time here on DS.

Tomorrow we will be singing at a place called The Lighthouse. It's a community meal program where people, including many who are homeless or struggling, can come and receive a free home-cooked meal. The meals are prepared by volunteers and supported by local businesses that donate food, money, and other resources to keep it operating.

Several months ago, they put out a request through local churches for live music. No one responded unless they were being paid, so after hearing about the need, my partner and I volunteered.

Most of what we sing is inspirational music, but we also take requests. Tomorrow we'll be playing two of them: "I Can Only Imagine," requested by one of the volunteer servers, and "Cats in the Cradle" by Harry Chapin, requested by a gentleman who comes for the meals.

If someone requests a song I already know, I'll usually play it on the spot. More often, I ask them to give me a week to learn it, and then I'll perform it the following Thursday. There is something special about seeing the smile on someone's face when they realize you remembered their request.

Over the months I've discovered that music is a bridge. The songs are important, but the connections they create are even more important.

A few weeks ago, a man joined us on harmonica while we were playing "10,000 Reasons." It was so beautiful that I got choked up and wasn't sure I could finish the song. Somehow I made it through and thanked him afterward.

The meal line forms right in front of my music stand, so people often stop and talk between songs. Many are carrying burdens I can relate to, especially addiction and recovery struggles. Those conversations have become just as meaningful as the music.

I've been doing this for several months now, and I'm grateful I said yes when the opportunity came along. Every week I leave feeling thankful, not only for the music and the people I meet, but also for the simple blessings I sometimes take for granted, like having a home and a warm bed to sleep in each night.

Music has a way of bringing people together, and I'm grateful to be a small part of that.