As an introduction to the church service the minister asked if anyone in the room had experienced depression, sadness, or loneliness. Most hands went up. 

 

"Good."

 

He was not reveling in the suffering of others. Rather he understands that for people to connect on a genuine level, our failings sometimes make a better door than our pinnacle moments. 

 

Not always, I admit. Feeling the joy of another is the very definition of love. Later in the day I had the absolute pleasure of watching musicians be transported to that place of aliveness. Moments before they began, they were wiggling tuning pegs, and adjusting the mike height. But the instant when the song saturated their skin all awareness of self evaporated. They became immersed in the Music. The audience stepped into love for these people who were willing to become an instrument.

 

But back to depression. The minister spoke about those times in life which apparently are part of the script. Handily, the experience of hopelessness is itself a way to look into the eyes of someone else. In that vulnerability, we discover that we are not alone. 

 

Perhaps all of us, given a choice between being accepted for our flaws and hiding behind the veneer of perfection, choose the first one. That is when we really start to sing.