"Glee" -- And This Is A New Thing?

After watching a short documentary on the musical phenomenon sweeping the country as a result of the television series "Glee" a group of us were were having a lively discussion about when the "Glee" concept actually began. Some thought it was as old as the madrigal groups of the 1960's (I remember hearing Hugh Thurlow and the Sprurrlows).

I recall that during that same time every High School in the town where I grew up had a madrigal group as a part of it's music program. In addition, so did every church in town . . . they were just called "youth choirs."

The more I think about it the more I can see something of the basis for the Glee phenomenon in these groups. However, in my mind the phenomenon's roots are much older than that. I don't think that really is where it started. I don't think it started with the television series either. That begs the question of where then did it start?

For me the Glee phenomenon didn't start anywhere. . . it evolved over time. In my mind it is nothing more than the natural evolution, secularization and popularization of what was happening in the youth music ministries in evangelical churches in the 1970-80's. Briefly these youth oriented music programs were moving from a straight stand-up on the riser choir process to more of a "song and dance" kind of performance groups. Perhaps the major difference between the secular "Glee" groups of today and the church "Youth Performance Groups" was the church group's emphasis on conveying a spiritual truth and/or message.


The more I think, the more convinced I am that I may in fact know one of the men who made major contributions to this who performance genre. That maybe, just maybe I had a front row seat from which I watched the birth of what has become the "Glee" phenomenon.

I feel both privileged and honored to have served on staff on a couple of occasions with a man who I believe was a pioneer in the development of the phenomenon. Did he know that he was part of the development of something that would one day be known as the "Glee" phenomenon? Probably not! Most ground breaking people don't see themselves in that way. Would he be happy with the way it has been secularized? Maybe not and maybe so. I say, "maybe not" because he always insisted that the gospel was a key element in what he was trying to do. But I also say, "maybe so" because I know how much he wanted youth to be able to express themselves in a positive way through music and performance.

Ron Asbury is the man of whom I am speaking. If you were to ask him I suspect he would say he was just investing in the lives of young people not developing anything. But make no mistake about it, he was doing exactly that. But as he sought ways to invest in and develop the spiritual lives of youth he was also pioneering what has come to be known today as the "Glee" concept. He began in Knoxville, Tennessee with his performance group known as "Joyful Sound" and continued when he went to Beaumont, Texas where he soon developed a similar and more "Glee" like group called, "Shinning Light." So when I saw the television show "Glee" I thought, what' so new about this?

Now, while it's on my mind I wanted to take a moment here to say how much I appreciate the opportunity I had to witness as Ron and Carolyn made investments in the lives of youth that will bear fruit long after the "Glee" Phenomenon has taken it place alongside the madrigal groups of the 1950's and something else comes along.

My mother always said that we should give folks flowers while they can enjoy them and that's what I am attempting to do here. Ron is a very special man who invested his life in the lives of Youth and I am grateful to God for placing Ron and Carolyn in my life.

I Love You Mom

I was sitting at my desk with the computer screen on to my Facebook News Wall when I began to notice how many people were beginning to post things reminding me and a few hundred of my closest friends that Mother's Day is fast approaching. There are admonitions to send cards, make phone calls, take mom to dinner and a number of folks just encouraging us to tell mom we love her.

As I read them I thought to myself, "I wish I could tell her just one more time that I loved her. There is an old saying from the farm that says, "Make hay while the sun is shinning." It simply means get something done while you have the opportunity. Now that's what I am suggesting to those of you who are blessed to still have your mother living. Do some of those things being suggested on my Facebook Wall. Send some flowers, a card or take her to dinner . . . heck, do all three. But let me tell you something important. What she really wants is to see your face and hear your voice and if your eyes are showing it and your lips are saying it the "I love you mom" will be music to her ears.

My parents had a hard time having children. My mother had an RH negative blood factor that made carrying a baby to term all but impossible back in the day I was born. It also put the mother's own life at serious risk. I recall my father telling me that I should never forget that "your mother walked through the valley of the shadow of death to bring you into this world." Indeed she did it by choice. The doctors tried to talk my father into letting them end her pregnancy as they were fearful for her life. I shall remember forever his answer as it was related to me years later. He said to the doctor, If you end her pregnancy you might as well go ahead and kill her because loosing this baby will do just that."

I don't know if a baby was ever born that was loved and wanted more than I was. Even my name reflects how my mother felt about me. She named me David Alan the meaning of which is my beloved darling.

My being born alive was perhaps the happiest day of her life. She had already lost twins whom she had carried almost to full term. So when I let out that wail as I entered this old world it was sweet music to her heart. I was then and all of her life God's special gift to her. Now mind you I never felt like she treated me in any particularly special way but she let me know in a thousand ways I was special. I wish every child in America could know just how special they are.

Yep, all that posting on Facebook got me to thinking about my mom and how much she loved me. I was with her when she died and just before she passed into eternity she looked me in the eye and told me, "I love you" and I replied back, "and I love you too Momma" and with that she joined the rest of the family in God's forever kingdom. Sometimes when for some reason she is on my mind I find myself whispering the words "I love you mom"and I can hear her voice saying back "I love you to son." I am thankful to God for the mother to whom he gave me.

I also am reminded that there is another mother in my life who loves me every bit as much as did my momma and that is my wonderful and beautiful wife, the mother of our four children. Which reminds me to say to those children, "don't forget to call your mother she wants and needs to hear your voice.