The Beat of A Jubilant Drummer

"Don't ask what the world needs. Ask what makes you come alive, and go do it. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive."

I know someone who embodies that wonderful Howard Thurman quote: my friend, Paul Montigny.
Paul comes alive when he plays the drums! Although he's already quite alive doing other things, especially for a man of his years. But when my friend drums he's ageless! "Jubilant!" is how one person described Paul's drumming.

Paul puts it this way: "I'm real when I play and dance!"


Many times I've seen Paul jump off the ground while he's playing the congas! And he really loves it when people dance to his jubilant beat!

I once introduced Paul as a local treasure because he has initiated so many people into the joys of cooperative music making through the numerous drum circles he's led the last 2 decades. For 5 years,the city of Lancaster employed him to lead a New Year's Eve drum circle for their city wide celebration. He's also known for the circles he's led at Lancaster's Long's Park, for playing at local churches and for many other organizations.

Currently Paul plays in a band called Streetbeets.* Streetbeets can be heard playing most 1st and 3rd Fridays each month at their favorite street location on the 100 block of E. Orange St across from the Prince St Parking Garage. On Friday, June 17th they'll be playing in the cafe at Ten Thousand Villages, Ephrata,PA between 6:30 and 8:30 p.m.

What Paul Montigny is so good at is engaging people of all ages with his drumbeat and then inviting them to discover rhythm making for themselves. I can think of few things that build connections between people faster than drum circles. Yes, my friend is a community treasure.

Most of us are too used to being entertained; of being an audience. But the real joy and meaning in life comes when we join a circle of action, make our own music, design our own clothes, grow our own food, start a cooperative endeavor of some kind or even create our own local currency.
We can move from being consumers to being creators and energized citizens! We can come alive and inspire others to come alive. We can dance to the beat of a jubilant drummer!

If you're not yet part of such an endeavor, look for one to join. Or think about what you want to begin. Just get started!

It's how we build community. It's how we find the energy to overcome the inertia that keeps us chained to the life robbing forces of corporatism and globalization. It sets our imaginations free to envision a different world, the world of The New Jubilee!



*Full Disclosure: I also play in Streetbeets.