“Do not fear, Zion; do not let your hands hang limp. The LORD your God is with you, the Mighty Warrior who saves.  He will take great delight in you; in his love he will no longer rebuke you, but will rejoice over you with singing.”  Zephaniah 3:16b-17
 
 
As the Tuscan sun sank lower over the River Arno, I sat satisfied with my day in Florence. Beginning with the market that morning followed by a walking tour of the old city, passed the Cattedrale di Santa Maria del Fiore with its famous dome to our wisteria-covered cooking school, the day was nothing short of perfect. Ravioli in a lemon cream sauce taught by a spry octogenarian was the result of the morning's culinary endeavors and our first course for lunch. Retracing our steps to the Galleria dell’Accademia for a close up view of Michelangelo's David and then browsing the plethora of shops filled our afternoon.
 
So here we sat. Satiated from our buffet dinner served al fresco at the rooftop restaurant, we watched the orange fire ball sink slowly into the night. This day wasn't over yet.
 
As we walked through twilit streets and over a bridge spanning the now dark Arno, we arrived at our destination - a beautiful old church, maintained so well as to look deceptively fresh and pristine within. The performance was about to begin.
 
The simple stage was merely the patterned tiled floor bounded by ornate arching columns surrounding a black-lacquered grand piano. The master of ceremonies was also the master of the keyboard and he began to play strains of beautiful music. Enter a man and a woman, he in a black tuxedo and black trimmed beard, her in a long, flowing evening dress, her hair twisted in a smooth knot. As the duo sang love songs in Italian, the audience was entranced. Opera being sung a few feet away by musicians who freely give of their talents all the while smiling with pure joy as they deliver every note and vibrato is something to experience. Even a non-opera lover couldn't resist falling under their spell.
 
I couldn't help but think how God loves to sing over us. Zephaniah 3:17 tells us that God is with us and as a mighty warrior, He saves us. We have nothing to fear. God not only doesn't rebuke us, He actually delights in us. God loves us so much He rejoices over us with singing. Just like the Florentine opera singers, God experiences joy as He sings over us. And the good news is, we don't have to travel to faraway places like Florence to experience joy, too. God rejoices over us day and night, just where we are. All we need to do is listen.
 
 
Lord, thank you for the lessons you are teaching me. The neighborhoods of Siena show me the need for community with others while the Florentine opera singers teach me of the joy in community with You. May the eyes of my heart be ever open to the lessons You want me to learn and may my ears be open to You. Amen.
 
 
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Text and photo copyright © 2016 by Dawn Dailey. All rights reserved. Photo of Ponte Santa Trinita (Saint Trinity Bridge), Florence, Italy.
 
All scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com The “NIV” and “New International Version” are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc.™

While Jesus was still talking to the crowd, his mother and brothers stood outside, wanting to speak to him. Someone told him, “Your mother and brothers are standing outside, wanting to speak to you.” He replied to him, “Who is my mother, and who are my brothers?” Pointing to his disciples, he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers. For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother.”  Matthew 12:46-50
 
 
On a recent trip to Italy, I traveled to the town of Siena. As I explored the streets with its numerous shops, I found myself gravitating to the piazza, or square, in the center of town, called Piazza del Campo. An enormous clock tower stands sentinel to the imperceptible passage of time here. Buildings on either side of the clock tower form a circle. Restaurants open up to the piazza where many folks that warm day sat al fresco as they enjoyed their food and drink. Running along the perimeter of the piazza is a cobblestone circular street. I was to learn later this circular street serves double-duty.
 
As the “insider” tour around Siena began, I discovered a secret not typically divulged to outsiders. The city is divided into 17 neighborhoods or districts, each called a contrada. Originally designed in the Middle Ages to provide military troops to Siena, the contrade have evolved into groups of patriotism, each with their own council, church, socials, and neighborhood activities. Fierce loyalty to one’s own contrada takes precedence over family, for at their social gatherings, attendees are only allowed from that contrada. Family members who belong to different contrade are expected to attend their own contrada’s functions.
 
More well-known than the contrade is the annual Palio di Siena. Ten of the contrade compete in two different horse races held in July and August of each year in the Piazza del Campo. Dirt is dumped onto the street encircling the piazza transforming the street into a race track. Each race lasts less than 2 minutes. The winning contrada gives a month-long party to the other 16 contrade.
 
While loyalty to one’s contrada struck me as unusual, I was impressed by the tightness of their communities and their unwavering fidelity. I wonder if we hold similar allegiances. Perhaps we belong to a social or activities club or hang out with a tight-knit group of friends or neighbors. But what about our local church communities? Are we as loyal to our own church as the Sienans are to their contrade? Do we seek to get plugged in and connect with the folks at our church? It’s all too easy to just show up for a worship service and then leave. The less we get involved, the less time we’ll stay at that particular church before moving on. Our loyalty changes at the proverbial “drop of a hat”.
 
Jesus in Matthew 12:46-50 expressed a spiritual connection to His followers that He likened to family ties. He said that whoever does the will of His heavenly Father is indeed His family. Wouldn’t it be satisfying to be so connected with our fellow church-mates that we consider them family?
 
Not long ago, quite a few of my sisters in Christ came to my aid during a crisis. I am forever thankful for them and their care for me. Their love and concern is a huge example to me of what can happen when Christ’s community pulls together. While we may not be gathering together for a horse race, community in Christ makes all the difference in this race called life.
 
 
Thank You, Jesus, for showing me the way to community. May I seek connection with my sisters and brothers in the faith as we minister to each other and to the larger world around us. Amen.
 
 
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Text and photo copyright © 2016 by Dawn Dailey. All rights reserved. Photo of Piazza del Campo, Siena, Italy.
 
All scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com The “NIV” and “New International Version” are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc.™