Reflections of Magic part 2

The rain eventually subsided and after a few more rides, it was time to go see Mark Schultz perform in Fantasyland at 9:30pm. This would be my eighth time in the past six years that I’ve seen him play live. I guess you could say I’m a fan? When we got to the stage with 30 minutes to spare, there were already a multitude waiting to hear Mark. With five albums filled with Christian radio smash hit after hit, this was an example of how his music has touched many hearts and lives.

As we stood, waiting in our moderately good spot amongst the crowd, it just so happened that his song, “You are a Child of Mine”, was played by the radio station that was broadcasting through out the park that night. As the crowd began to sing along, I leaned over and said to Brittany, “I hope this isn’t the first song on his set list to play.” Brittany agreed that that probably wouldn’t be good since we’ve all just heard it.

Before too long, it was time for the concert to begin. After being introduced, Mark came out with an acoustic guitar (an instrument second only to his piano in this song writer’s repertoire) while being backed up by his band. I listened carefully to try and distinguish what song he was about to play since I know all of them. I said to Brittany, “I think he’s going to do it”, referring to “Child of Mine”, the song we had just heard on the radio. Sure enough, that’s the song he opened with. Actually, it was very cool that he did. The fact that we all just heard it had no bearing on its impact.

This being Brittany’s first Schultz concert, I could tell that she was quickly getting into it. Near the end, Mark performed one of my favorite songs of his, “I Am the Way”. His first ever single that talks about how Christ is “the Way”. My favorite lyric in the song is, “When you’re down / look around / and you’ll see / I Am with You“. After that song, Mark began to mess around on the keys momentarily, playing an unrecognizable tune as if he was deciding what song to do next. He appears to nod his head as if agreeing with himself and then leads into my most favorite tune of his, “He Will Carry Me”. At one point, Mark stops singing during the chorus and lets the audience sing a few lines. As with most all of his songs that night, the lyrics were already on the lips of the crowd including me.

Upon finishing his set, Mark climbs down off the stage and into the crowd. As he proceeded to shake hands, give high fives and hugs, the massive crowd began to push towards him. He had made mention during the show that he wished he was down there amongst all of us and now he was doing just that. Pretty soon I noticed two Disney security guards make their way to him and begin to escort him through the sea of humanity. Mark had good intentions, but he had gotten himself in a little too deep. The guards led him out and away from the Mob.

Much like most of the crowd who were pushing in to talk with Mark or grab a picture, I would have liked to had shared with him a little of how his music has touched my life. I know that it would had been difficult to get his full attention there in that mob anyway.

My cousin, Brittany, and I then went over to the stage in front of Cinderella Castle to see “newsboys”. A concert that was sure to be exciting, fun and inspirational. This would be my fifth time seeing them live. Unfortunately, we ended up having a bad spot in the crowd where neither of us could really see that well through the other people standing in front of us. This was mainly because of the slight incline that we were standing on. Add that to being squashed in between people as if in a can of sardines after standing on your feet for most of the day. I did get to hear them play my most favorite song of theirs, “Something Beautiful”, but I was only distracted by not being able to see or move that well. So, as you can image, this was my least favorite newsboys show.

I have a little bit more story left to tell you of that night, but that will have to wait until my next post.

One of the things I like about the image I captured above, is the glowing window. It’s kind of mysterious, don’t you think?