Calendar p. 2 Pastor Bob

By Pastor Bob Wallace

There’s been a lot of talk lately about noise that comes from airplanes using our airport. Engine run ups late at night, or early in the morning, definitely have a way of disturbing a good night’s sleep. All you have to do is add the noise of jet aircraft and bingo, we’re right in middle of big city living. But that’s not what bothers a lot of people who want to get away from noise and have a little peace and quiet.

Have you ever tried going to the beach for the day, having selected a nice little spot where all you hear are the sounds of the birds and the waves hitting your newly renourished beach and, whammo! You’re invaded with loud music courtesy of a boombox plopped nearby? The size of some of those sound machines carried on shoulders up and down the beach is truly amazing. The noise they generate is enough to make you scream. Too bad that kind of thing can’t be addressed along with airplanes, trucks, motorcycles and any other noisemakers that break your peaceful sound barriers. And how about when you’re watching the evening six o’clock news on TV and the program takes a commercial break? Look out. The sound engineer running the commercials has a heavy hand and really turns the volume up, especially on the car dealer commercials. That’s when you reach for the TV remote and fumble fast to hit the mute button. You can hardly hear yourself think with that one. It makes one wonder if there will be any permanent hearing loss due to television commercial sound overload.

If that’s not bad enough, shopping in some stores has become a chore, not because of the crowds, but because of the music being played over the store’s sound system. It used to be that music was played in stores for the enjoyment of the customer. Now, it seems the selection of music is made for the enjoyment of the store employees. I can’t believe what I hear being played in some places and the level at which the sound emanates from the speakers. It kind of takes the fun out of shopping. But that happens in a lot of restaurants as well. Just try eating with music being pumped out of an overhead sound system. Or better yet, live music blasting away at you during lunch. It’s enough to turn your stomach. Now I don’t want to sound unappreciative of good music appropriately played for the enjoyment of others. I think I have a good ear for music. I took a course in music appreciation while in college and learned not to exclude any form of musical expression for my enjoyment and pleasure of music. It took some doing.

But after the big band sound of the ‘40s and ‘50s, the rock and roll of the ‘60s took some getting used to. The ‘70s and ‘80s brought a mix of new music styles that challenged the ear of the listener. But none as much as the rap music of late. It’s not so much the monotony of the rhythm of rap that bothers me. It’s the monotony and incoherence of the lyrics. Any rap music played on sound systems that invade the privacy of others is what gets to a lot of people these days. What say we all get together for one big music appreciation night at the Philharmonic and have played all the types of music available to us today. Include classical, opera, big band, rock ‘n roll, country western and rap. Then let’s take a vote. Which would be the most popular?

Well, you don’t have to worry. That’s probably not going to happen. But you don’t need to have a winner. The one thing I learned in music appreciation was that a person doesn’t have to like only one kind of music to appreciate music. Understanding and appreciating all kinds of musical expression is the mark of a well-rounded person, they say.

BUT, the screeching, hollering, shouting and vulgarity that’s called pop music today is enough to try one’s appreciation, tolerance and patience. What say we just respect each other’s space, turn the volume DOWN and have a real good time being together while we can still hear.

What’s that, you say?

The Reverend Doctor Bob N. Wallace was called to be Pastor of Everglades Community Church on March 19, 2006 where he currently serves. Visit the Church website: www.ever-community-church.com

C h i c k e n D i n n e r !

By the Everglades Lion Club

Saturday, January 8, 2022 4:30 to 6 :00 pm

P r e-O r d e r & P i c k u p a t M c L e o d P a r k

Featuring:

Cecil’s F am ous Grilled Chicken Cole Slaw BBQ Beans Dess ert & Bever age

On l y $1 5 .00 / pla t e

Please call any o f the following to purchase ti ckets :

Kathy Brock : 954 662 7003 Connie Barker:419-3 50-6650 Tamm ie Pernas @ Cit y Hall: 239-695-3781

A lim ited am ount of dinners will be a vailable the da y o f the event.

Please Pre-Order!

Thank Y ou!

EVERGLADES COMMUNITY CHURCH The Friendly Little Church on the Circle NON-DENOMINATIONAL 101 S. Copeland Avenue, PO Box 177 Everglades City, FL 34139, 239-784-7318 The Rev. Dr. Bob N. Wallace, Pastor Sunday Worship Service 11:00 am Sunday School 9:45 am www.ever-community-church.com