Wow! What a show!
Went to One Republic's concert in Tokyo yesterday and it was one of the best shows I've ever been to. Ryan Tedder is such an amazing singer. Never misses a note, and you can tell that his music comes from his soul. He was born to be a singer! So much positive energy and joy in his performance that my whole body was just filled with joy. I just felt so energized by his voice and his songs and his performance coming home. What an inspiration! Although, what we do in classical music is something totally different, hopefully what I've recieved from yesterday's concert will reflect in my music in some way.

The Divine Image
William Blake

To Mercy, Pity, Peace, and Love
All pray in their distress;
And to these virtues of delight
Return their thankfulness.

For Mercy, Pity, Peace and Love
Is God, our father dear,
And Mercy, Pity, Peace, and Love
Is Man, his child and care.

For Mercy has a human heart,
Pity a human face,
And Love, the human form divine,
And Peace, the human dress.

Then every man, of every clime,
That prays in his distress,
Prays to the human form divine,
Love, Mercy, Pity, Peace.

And all must love the human form,
In heathen, Turk, or Jew;
Where Mercy, Love, and Pity dwell
There God is dwelling too.

Here is William Blakes' "The Divine Image" to coincide with the Epiphany and end of Christmas.
A very close friend of mine gave me Malcom Guite's book "Waiting on the Word - A poem a day for Advent, Christmas and Epiphany".
It's a beautiful collection of poems by Rosetti, Keates, Chesterton, Tennyson, Coleridge, John Donne and also contemporary poets. Some of them are quite hard to understand and even to read (as some are written in old English) but for 3 years now (since my friend gave it to me as a Christmas present) every year I try to start reading it from December 1st.
It ends on January 6th which is apparently the "Feast of the Epiphany" which celebrates the visit of the magi to the Christ-Child.

I've never read William Blake, but this poem gives us a glimpse of his beautiful soul.
No matter what religion or faith, aren't our virtues all the same?

More than ever, I am praying that 2025 will be a peaceful year for our world.