Alabare

Today we were at the beach. Warm hazy sun, a breeze off of the water, huge waves crashing at their breaking point and friends gathered together for fun made it a very perfect day. After swimming and playing beach soccer and eating delicious boca colorada fish and sharing stories with one another, we decided to share one last song together. As soon as the cords echoed through the guitars, the hands began to clap and voices rang out, "Alabare, alabare! Alabare, alabare!"

The voices rose up through the sound of the crashing waves, and within a few moments the kitchen staff and various children were singing too. Then I noticed the stranger at the gate. He appeared to be in the neighborhood to sell crabs (because he held a bundle of wriggly crabs in his hand). He set down the bundle and clapped with great exuberance. It was hard to tell if he already knew the song or was learning it quickly. The smile on his face was fantastic! I motioned to him to see if it was OK to take his photo.

Yesterday, a chorus of Alabare brought children who rarely see visitors out into the yard to chat and play, and it comforted an old man whose body is tired but spirit still wishes to sing. On Sunday, choruses of Alabare filled the church and all were inspired to sing and clap and tap their feet. This simple song of praise has been filling the air in El Salvador this week!

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