Glastonbury
Last weekend it was Glastonbury! The legendary five-day festival of contemporary performing arts that takes place at Worthy Farm, Somerset, England.
It began in 1970 by local farmer Michael Eavis after he saw an open-air Led Zeppelin concert at the Bath Festival of Blues and Progressive Music.
Over 50 years it has become a major event in British culture, hosting not only music, but also dance, comedy, theatre, circus, cabaret, and other arts, with over 200,000 people attending.
‘Glasto’ has the power to draw in some of the biggest names in contemporary music, and this year was rather unique, as it had both the youngest and oldest headliners on the main ‘Pyramid Stage’.
The youngest was Billie Eilish, a 20-year-old American singer-songwriter. For those who don’t know her, she performed the most recent theme song to the Bond film, No Time to Die.
The eldest was a man from Liverpool who was in a band called The Beatles: Sir Paul McCartney, who turned 80 on 18 June. He is probably one of the most successful composers and performers of all time.
I watched both over the weekend, and it got me thinking about their age difference, the power of music, and as I mused, I was reminded of something in the Bible…
“In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people.
Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams.
Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days, and they will prophesy.”
These verses come from the book of Acts, just after the Holy Spirit had come at Pentecost and empowered some of Jesus’ closest friends.
One of them, Peter, spoke to a crowd who saw what was going on and explained that God was doing something new. God was not limiting Himself to a few people, but instead, the Holy Spirit was being ‘poured out’ on young an old, women and men!
This outpouring was to empower these believers to live life God’s way, and to reveal His love, forgiveness, healing, restoration, and purpose to others.
The youngest (female) and oldest (male) performers at this year’s Glastonbury showed that age and gender was not a barrier to being a musical performer.
This ‘metaphor’ was a striking reminder to me, that God’s desire is to pour out His Spirit (i.e., to work in and through) the young, the old, the women, and the men!
Be encouraged, as this means you!
God bless
Gary Bastin - Hope Community Church leader