Music in Lebanon: A Song of Hope

As we approach Christmas, the words of one song rush over me, “The hopes and fears of all the years are met in thee tonight.” Those words remind me of my childhood, learning about my God and the people that loved me enough to teach those words to me. They also remind me that my hope is in a Person and His name is Jesus. Jesus can move us from despair to hope.

Listening to the music of this season takes me back to a musical concert I attended in Beirut, Lebanon on October 30, 2016. No, it wasn’t about Christmas, but in a sense it was about Christ. My wife and I were there for the 10^th anniversary of a non-profit organization called Heart for Lebanon. Heart for Lebanon is a Christian organization working with refugees from Syria who have fled the civil war. What they do is because of the love of Christ for all of us. We all have worth and Jesus desires a relationship with us. We only need to respond to His love.

That night in Beirut was filled with giddy excitement as 40 or so children and young adults gathered under the bell tower of the National Evangelical Church (NEC). We assembled before the large doors in front of us and several of us took photos of the group. We then went into the facility and took our seats. It struck me that these kids were like any group of kids that were about to perform before a crowd of adults. Finally, various members of the ensemble took their places on stage with instruments in hand and their director began leading them. In that moment I knew it was a special evening. Look at the faces of the kids in the photos throughout this post and tell me they have no hope.

One of the initiatives of this non-profit is to teach music to mostly Syrian refugee children. There are other initiatives for Syrian refugees. They include the distribution of food and hygiene products, education of children, home visits to determine other needs (medical and physical), times of prayer and Bible studies. The teaching of music is done in conjunction with its educational efforts in the city of Beirut.

Admittedly, there are also North Africans and Iraqi children in the mix, but as it stands in the country of Lebanon, most of the children in the music program are Syrian refugees. Many have escaped from places of beatings and torture; they have seen fathers and brothers killed because they would not join one army or the other. Some have had their homes bombed and destroyed. Most have witnessed this violence. They have seen torture. They have had friends killed. These children have seen a lot and many suffer from trauma, but they are also resilient. They also know hardship. They didn’t want to leave their homes, families, friends and schools. Their parents lost jobs. They had little choice. They escaped to Turkey, Jordon, Iraq and Lebanon. They anticipated problems, but then again, there was little they could really change. These kids ended up in Beirut, They came with what they could carry.

The difficulties in the country of Lebanon are many. These Syrians have fled to a country that from 1975 to 1990 was in a civil war, and Syria came in to occupy it until 2005. Emotions, especially hatred run high, even now. Then consider Lebanon is a country of 6 million people, of which 1.5 million are refugees. Syrians refugees make up nearly 25 per cent of that Lebanon’s population. Think of the impact that would have in the United States if instead of 325 million people we had 25 percent more for a total of 433 million people living here and 108 million refugees, all coming within the last 5 years. What would that do to local housing supplies, school classrooms, streets, water supplies, waste disposal, medical services, everything?

For a refugee, daily life in Lebanon is challenging, yet the country, in order to deal with the sheer number of refugees, has placed limits on what refugees can do. Refugees are not allowed to hold jobs, their children have limited access to public schools. Their children are excluded from organized sports and other activities. Lebanese citizens must also be protected. It is a complex dilemma.

All of this violence, poverty, hatred and hardship is a breeding ground for more violence in the Middle East and around the world. It contributes to further poverty. It’s a waste of human potential. It is a cycle that must be broken.

Where is the hope?

Some of the children of these refugees have had the opportunity to be in the program of music. Many, when they arrived they knew no music all. Given recorders (you may recall learning music using a recorder, a flute-like instruments) some did not know which end served what purpose. Music lessons were on-going, often in the evenings. They added instruments – violins, clarinets, trumpets, hand bells, and keyboards. The children weren’t allowed to participate in community social activities, so they freely enjoyed music practices in the evening. They sang in English the music that had lyrics. They learned it well, well enough to give concerts in the community. The students have also been given hope. Heart for Lebanon has given these children songs for their hearts, trained hands, and discerning ears. They have been the recipients of much attention and love. Someone has come along-side them and believed in them. Taught them skills, developed talents, and shared in their God-given worth.

The concert we attended took place in a Christian church in Beirut. These kids were all smiles for the concert. A wonderful reception was held afterward. Praise was well deserved. Do I even need to say it, but it was a “joyous” event. It was a celebration, not only for the 10^th anniversary of Heart for Lebanon, but for what these students have accomplished.

What was remarkable about this to me was that afterward, one of the boys remarked, “I have never had anyone clap for me before.” He spoke this in English, not his native language. He had learned this, not as part of the music to be sung, but meaningful words. This too since coming to Lebanon.

All of this is significant. Actually, it is powerful. It is changing the future of boys and girls who will become leaders, hopefully in that part of the world. It is breaking down walls of hatred and replacing them with places of understanding.

It is an opportunity for Christians to love people who are being devastated. It is an opportunity to show people the love of Christ.

What Heart for Lebanon is doing is powerful. It is attempting to serve vulnerable, hated and disparaged people. Its goal is to give hope to those who need it. These are people who simply want to return home.

When asked about their coming to Lebanon, these children tell horrifying stories of the war and their escape. They are the figures in the stories you see in the news, but they have names, shed tears and even breakdown when they tell them. They struggle with the images in their minds and with the memories of horror. They want to tell you. It’s an elephant in the room that demands explanation. At the same time it’s ugly and painful, something that is difficult to handle emotionally. But on concert night what they hold to most dearly is the song on their tongues and instruments in their hands. And they hold on, even relish what they are about to do. They hold on to those who believe in them. It makes them whole. They are fully accepted. It is a gift of hope for their future. For this, I love Heart for Lebanon as a Christ-believing ministry. It is based on the hope and love of Christ. Look into it. It’s more than just giving food away. It’s about being relational. If you’ve made it this far in the post, you know, being a friend to someone in need changes the whole thing. Being a friend, because you are Christian, makes it eternal.

Today, I hear my grandchildren sing Christmas music. That music, powerful in its message, gives me hope for their future also.

Scripture:

Judges 5.12 – Wake up, wake up Deborah, break out in song.

Job 17.15 – Job wrote, “Where is my hope? Who can see any hope for me?”

Job 35.10 – God gives us songs in the night.

Psalm 40.3 – God put a song in my mouth, a praise to our God.

Psalm 42.8 – By night God puts His song within me.

Isaiah 38.20 – The Lord will save me, and we will sing with stringed instruments all the day of our lives.

Romans 5.5 – Our hope lifts us up, because God pours His love into us.



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