It has been almost a week in Venezuela, and we have been welcomed amazingly everywhere we go. To be here is a blessing, and I am humbled daily by what I see, hear and experience. Everything here has been thought out so well. This speaks of the astounding leadership of Maestro Abreu. His vision is incredible, and meticulous. On Monday, we visited the Centre for Social Action, which is a state of the art music centre built by El Sistema. It was truly built with the musician in mind...built with vision and purpose.
I see PURPOSE in every strand and cell of El Sistema. Nothing is done for no reason. And nothing is done selfishly. This is a lesson I never want to forget: Living selflessly. I have seen this many times in the past week. I think it is so easy to come in with our preconceptions, our tainted lenses and ideas of what this should be or what it is. Eduardo Mendez, the Executive Director, spoke to us today about not defining El Sistema, and that they never see themselves as the owners of this 'truth'. We should not limit the possibilities that this holds by trying to define it. This meeting was inspiring and insightful.
I do not want have this rare and precious opportunity to be here, and still miss the point. I see love, humility, hope and purpose as the yarn that is used to weave this exquisite tapestry, connecting people through music. There is a way of giving here that surpasses yourself, and even the person you are giving to or teaching. There is an attitude of such sharing here, with the understanding that we are all learning to share. You receive so that you can give, and you give because you have received. A culture of giving.
On Tuesday, we visited the Moltaban Nucleo. We saw children fully engaged while being taught, right up to the child n the last row who did not have an instrument. We saw a class of 4 years play xylophone, while beginning to learn music theory. We saw young people, sometimes not yet in High School learning Beethovens' 5th Symphony. They are grappling with and soaking in this repertoire from a young age. We also heard some vibrant Venezuelan folk music, that made me want to get up and dance!! This was played on cuatro, Venezuelan harp, maracas and double bass. I have never seen the maracas being played like that before... I am falling in love with this music!
Yesterday, we went to two instrument workshops, where instruments are not only repaired, but made. The focus of both workshops are two-fold: To take care of El Sistema's instruments, but then in the process of doing this, to teach others how to do the same. At the first workshop, the craftsmen who fix the instruments played some folk music for us on the instruments they were fixing, and had made. this time I did get up and dance!:-) The second workshop we visited teaches people with disabilities to make and fix string bows. they too will eventually work in their own community by being employed by their local nucleo. The experience at both workshops truly moved me, because they were the epitome of a self-sustaining cycle. Building to last. Although, to build a high building, you need a deep foundation. Its this foundation that I am so interested and fascinated in.
In the last week, the question "Why am I here?" has been running through my mind constantly. What does being here mean for me? For my life? For South Africa, my home country? What is truly significant about all of this? This time here is going to be a crucial and defining moment for me, a pivotal turning point and course alignment. Everyday this week, while experiencing and seeing what is being done here, I have had this ball of excitement and wonder that grabs me at my core. This is not just because of what I see and hear, but because of what being part of this family means to people. I find this hope growing in me, because I am beginning to see and understand what this could mean to and for people in my own country and city. This is cultural and social transformation in action.
There is something special about the hearts of the people we have met here. Rodrigo Guerrero, the Assistant Director of Cultural Affairs, who is one of the most articulate people I have ever met, said something profound on Tuesday. The conversation was about public speaking. He said (I am paraphrasing) that when you think you have something really great to say, then you need to wait a moment, before you say it. Often, if you examine what you wanted to say, you would find that you were saying it for yourself. By taking that extra moment to reflect, you are shifting the focus off of yourself, and you can then speak with the right intent. This changed my world! These few sentences also spoke volumes about his heart. This is just one example of one person who has grown in and is part of the El Sistema family. There are many others.
So, to answer the question I kept posing to myself: Why am I here? I am here because I am supposed to be here. I am here because this is about more than my desire to be here, soak everything in and learn. It is about purpose. However, while asking myself this question, I realized that I was looking inward, and missing the point. This is not about my life, my dreams or my goals. In fact, it is not about me all. Its about being will to use your life to serve others.
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