The host family was most gracious. Frau Sperk, a wonderful, warm Austrian hostess served the New Year's Day pork dinner in their lovely Viennese dining room, and never even set a place for herself at the table. Diverse cultures have many differences, as well as a host of things to share in common. We sang together, ate together, laughed together, celebrated 12-year old Anastasia's birthday together, and worshiped together. As we all know, music touches us in ways far beyond the spoken word.
Music can be the vehicle for the spoken word.
It is often through the musical texts that our faith is articulated. Music as liturgy helps us experience the faith through worship. We may ask how such an experience as this conference in Vienna regularly attracts tens of thousands of young adults year after year. Certainly, there are a variety of reasons. And what appears is that many find meaning at Taize that they have not found elsewhere.