Do What You Love

I recently took  a trip as a chaperone for a high school choir to Spain. My brother is the choir director and my sister was able to make the trip with us as well.  This was such a unique experience for three adult siblings with families to put aside time to spend with each other. It was such a rewarding experience. Not just the international travel, but the opportunity to watch my brother doing what he loves.  He has always had a passion for music and my sister and I have sat through countless performances of him singing while we were growing up.  He is now sharing his passion with his students and it is contagious! To watch how his students respond to him and to find in themselves their voice was a beautiful thing. 
The group sang in several cathedrals all over Spain as part of a service participation and then recitals often following mass. One such Cathedral was the Toledo Cathedral.  How awe-inspiring that we three farm kids from Kansas sat in this awesome Cathedral. To hear the choir add their voices to those left in the Cathedral for hundreds of years before was incredible.
The most moving moment of our trip was watching my brother direct his choir for a recital following a service participation at the Church of Santo Tome. The passion and pride he had for the music was evident on his face.  As my sister and I sat in the pew with tears running down our cheeks, neither of us could be happier for our brother.  While choosing music was not always the easiest or most popular thing to do growing up, he remained true to himself and his heart.  And the voices rose into a beautiful song.  Comments from people included, "these are the voices of angels", "I have no words", "I have not heard anyone sing with such heart and soul in all my years", and "you lifted my soul".  Music is a universal language that touches people in many different ways.  My brother was blessed with a gift and is now sharing it with those around him and the rewards are plentiful.
I encourage you to follow your dreams and do what you love in life. When you are true to yourself, happiness is sure to follow.