Tears in Pyongyang

Standing in the throng of an orchestra of 400 players and a choir of 400-500 plus 3000 others singing patriotic songs was the last place I expected to be moved to tears. There were so many confusing unanswered questions in my head as I stood with 1000s of North Koreans as they celebrated the birthday of their leader. But the overwhelming sense that the human spirit, in the face of unimaginable adversity, is still able to express profound beauty, hope and wonder through the power of music, moved me to tears. Witnessing 1000s of people coming together to do this, reminded me that there is hope and strength in community, even in the most broken, harrowing situations.