Summer Festivals- and Community

So I'll start by saying Wendi and I had a great time w. Pastor Ken and friends this past Saturday in Thorntown, Indiana. Sweet crowd, lots of convos and kindness. Tonight we are blessed to be home safe and early to bed!

But before I turn in I recall as many do around the July 4 holiday here in the U.S., the 28-year run, fun and spiritual movement within our own Cornerstone Festival. It was a truly amazing gathering of bands and solo artists, music of every variety, the arts, cinema, teaching and panel offerings on topics many wouldn't deal with in the churches. We experienced a great deal of living over those 4 day (really, week-long) festivals, first in northern Illinois, then at our own Cornerstone Farm near Bushnell, IL.

But- it was far beyond all I've mentioned here. Sporting events, drum circles, generator stages with very young and sometimes older musicians having a go, also fishing, swimming, canoeing (at Cstone Farm) youth groups, local folks, the super-wide range of church and totally non-spiritual folks coming together happened each year.

See, the real issue was and always is at such events, a sense of wonder, surprise, exploration, discovery and the real deal: community.

"Belonging" is perhaps the best sense of friends coming together and sticking with one another over the long haul -even if only seeing each other for a handful of days annually.

This is precisely why any sort of festival ends up working and having longevity -if it indeed does. Community.

Illness, finances, job requirements, the weather, lots of elements conspire to keep people from showing up but in the long run it's genuine community friendships and shared interest that keep folks returning.

Audio Feed Festival in Urbana, Illinois carried the torch and continues each summer -and I'm blessed most years to be a part of it. Oh, as generations flip, change, morph, yet a small portion remember Cstone and link at AF. Sweet.

Now younger peeps who never experienced the earlier gatherings are linking.

May God's grace continue to move in hearts as He so desires at Audio Feed Festival!

And -this ol' guy gets to at least be there this coming SAT. July 6 for a 2pm solo blues set.

As always, thanks for stopping by! -Glenn