In Duet with God - Reassurance

For the past year, I've been spending a lot of time in contemplation. I've also been writing my first book, In Duet with God - The Story of a Lifelong Friendship.  It's inspired by a woman who came into my life when I was eight--someone who's had a transformative effect on me and on all whom she's met. 

As I was writing, themes began to emerge like forgiveness, compassion, reassurance. Prior to the book's release (early 2014), I'll be posting excerpts as well as a series of free-form 'poems' like the one below. Each is inspired by the words of great teachers and texts. I'll include musical selections from my new CD, "In Duet with God." My hope is that these poems, the music, and the upcoming book will help awaken our hearts to the precious realm of love that’s in our midst.

Reassurance

From the beginning,

We humans have endeavored

To be near to a sense of

Something beyond ourselves,

To a numinous presence.

To God.

Our desire to be reassured by God
Has taken many forms,

Such as prayer or meditation or ritual.

The truth is that,

In God’s loving eyes, our every thought,
Word, and movement is always,
always beautiful.

Anything we do with love,

Will reassure him that we’re there.

Never doubt that.

The sincere intention alone
ascends to heaven.

In response, God will say,

You are precious in my eyes.
Fear not for I am with you.
He hears our voices,

As we hear his.

And that voice is
Something, which cannot be
Described in words.

Slowly, we begin to realize that

We have everything we need

To be reassured ourselves
And to reassure God.

Because there, inside each of us
Is a temple, a shrine, a mosque
A church
That dissolves,
That dissolves in God. 

We’ll see that our

Supplication, worship, prayer…
They alone are real…

So whatever gesture you make,

Or tradition you embrace,

Know that as you pray,

Or contemplate, or reflect,

Or meditate, or chant

Or dream, or paint or dance,

Your arms and God’s
Are intertwined. 

Sources: Isaiah 43; St. Teresa of Avila; Mahatma Gandhi

Rabia; Baal Shem Tov; Mahatma Gandhi; St. Teresa

(Quotes are in italics)

Visit www.pianobeautiful.com for music and more...

(c)2014 Jessica Roemischer All Rights Reserved - In Duet with God(R)

Simple Gifts

Nearly every Saturday, I play at Chocolate Springs Cafe in Lenox, MA. On the beautiful, state-of-the-art Yamaha digital grand piano, amidst people whose enjoyment is buoyed by the world-class, hand-made chocolates, I perform my favorite pieces, from the sacred to the secular, from Gregorian chant to the Dave Matthews Band, with lots in between! Last week, I recorded this version of the Shaker hymn, "Simple Gifts." Every weekend I'm there, I'll endeavor to create at least one new piano video to post on my blog, Facebook and Twitter. I look forward to sharing the music with you!

"Light Born of Light" - The Majesty of Sacred Music

I'm starting work on my next piano CD, which will feature sacred music arranged in medleys and combinations that inspire the spiritual journey. In preparation, I've been listening to everything from Gregorian Chant to the work of Morten Lauridsen, particularly his "Lux Aeterna." Lauridsen is perhaps the finest contemporary composer of liturgical music.

Here is one of my Lauridsen favorites: "O Nata Lux" ("Light Born of Light"), performed by the Los Angeles Master Chorale. I plan to include a piano version of this beautiful hymn.


(c)2014 Jessica Roemischer All Rights Reserved - In Duet with God(R)