Take over 100 people, who are so busy they can't turn around, add commitment, dedication, perseverance, love, sweat, stress, physical labor and then throw in talent, to say the least. What do you get?

The answer is an amazing concert filled with strength, beauty, love and pure bliss.

Saturday night the town of Staples was privy to a culmination of many weeks of blood, sweat and tears. A concert of Sacred and Secular Music was performed by the Staples Area Men's Chorus, Staples Area Women's Chorus and Staples Motley High School A Cappaella choir, along with the orchestra. There were so many people performing, it was difficult to see all the faces.

My point of telling you this? I am humbled by the fact that so many people, young and old, share their talents with this community. Attendance was good, almost full, but I think of how many people do not attend these events and it is down right sad. Staples Motley and the surrounding areas have more talent per capita than many areas of this United States.

With the crazy world we live in and the uncertainty of our futures, it is not difficult to get depressed worrying what is going to happen to all of us... financially, mentally, physically, emotionally, etc. Then this little glimmer of brightness shines for all of us to take in and enjoy for a moment, and forget about how we are going to make it to the next week.

I know I am not alone in this statement. Saturday's concert was a testimony to the positive things going on in our community. People, if you have not seen, heard or witnessed the talent in this little area of the world, you need to wake up and make sure you do not miss another opportunity like this again.

I don't care if you are a hermit, a sad sack, pessimistic, or a grumpy old man. You will be blessed in some way when you attend a concert here. I don't care if you think the world is going to hell in a hand basket and our futures are doomed. Stop thinking and go to a high school concert, a community concert, an artistic event. Our busy brains need the creative outlets to right themselves.

And one last comment. Say thank you to all the dedicated, committed people who bring this gift to all of us. Not all of us have talent in this area, but you have the ability to listen and enjoy others talent. Embrace it, receive it, bask in it.

Thank you to the entire ensemble of Saturday night, no matter what you did to make that happen. If I could pay you, I would. Please know that the audience was wowed by your gift to us. Keep it up.
Pam Collins
Staples, Minn.