麻豆社

Reverand Ruth Scott

Earlier this week I found myself in a group of wonderful people having a private tour of the state apartments at Windsor Castle. As we moved from one room to the next our senses were overwhelmed by the extraordinary carvings and sculptures, enormous tapestries, and stunning silk wallcoverings. I鈥檝e never seen so many famous paintings in one place! We also had the opportunity to hear the famous choir singing in St George鈥檚 Chapel. These treats were a welcome break from the work I and the people I was with were doing. We were staying at St George鈥檚 House in the Lower Ward of the Castle. We鈥檇 come to hear about the terrible atrocities being experienced by the Yazidi people in Iraq at the hands of ISIS. The prince of the Yazidis and his son had brought a group from their community to tell us about their experiences of genocide and how we might be able to help them. If I鈥檓 honest I found it hard to look at all the dazzling beauty in the castle alongside hearing terrible stories of brutality. And yet, the prince and his people told us how important it was for them to keep alive their artistic and musical heritage as they lived through persecution. Such things are not a luxury or the preserve of the privileged. 聽Recounting their ancient stories, preserving and making their art and continuing to make music was key to them reclaiming the identity others had tried to destroy. I was particularly moved to learn how central music is to Yazidi faith. There are songs to be sung as a baby is being born and music accompanies every significant rite of passage in their life. Our Yazidi friends told us their own particular story about God creating Adam. It鈥檚 only when God sings Adam鈥檚 soul into him that he comes alive. It鈥檚 a story that I think holds truth for many of us - music can bring us to life, healing us in times of brokenness, and giving voice to our joys.