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Shalom

by Rachael Claire

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about

Shalom was birthed last summer as a prayer, a plea, and lament for our nation and world in the wake of the murder of George Floyd.

I was so broken over the fact that people’s response to such a tragic act of violence was not universal-That there was still continued division, hate, fear and what seemed to me like turning a deaf ear to those that were experiencing the most pain.

I didn’t know how to pray.

So I used the words of the prayer of St. Francis- "Lord, make me an instrument of thy peace, where there is hatred, let me sow love... where there is despair, hope, where there is darkness light" as the soil for my prayers, and ultimately this song.

The first line of the song says, “Oh to seek to understand, rather than to be understood,” coming from a latter part of the St. Francis prayer.
My hope, my prayer was that people would choose to listen, to listen, to listen. So often I see in the media folks yelling at each other, trying to be heard and to get their point across.

I’ve learned that in conflict resolution, one of the key ingredients to resolving that conflict is allowing the other person to be heard and trying our best to understand, or to walk in the shoes of that person.

People need to be heard in their pain.

What would it look like if we, as people, as communities, as Americans, as humans, would truly and with humility listen to one another? That we would ask questions that lead to discussion and bridge building, rather than continued discord, frustration and oppression. My hope is that this song would invite us, gently, to do so.

lyrics

Lyrics:
Oh to seek to understand, rather than to be understood
Oh to seek to love the most, rather than to respond with hate

Shalom, Justice and Mercy be ours

Oh to seek to give away, rather than wanting to receive
Oh to seek to be the light, rather than spreading darkness

We trade doubt for faith
We trade despair for hope
We trade sorrow for your joy

Oh to seek to listen well, rather than shutting out the pain
Oh to seek to comfort more, and walk side by side with those who mourn

credits

released April 2, 2021
Track Credits:
Rachael Claire Botz- lead vocals, piano, violin, viola
Warren Oja- cello
Justin Botz- harmony vocals
Amanda Prorak- harmony vocals
Emily Lacy- harmony vocals
Albert Yau- harmony vocals
Lydia Kuhr- harmony vocals
Salome Kuhr- harmony vocals

Arrangement: Rachael Claire and Warren Oja
Recording & Mixing: Michael Macdonald
Mastering: Seth Engel

Art from Cover Art: Bette Lynn Dickinson's "Lament Series"
You can see more of her art, and even purchase this series at www.bettedickinson.life/paintings

Graphic Design for Cover Art: Justin Botz

Photographer for headshot and banner: Albert Yau, Second Print Productions

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about

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Rachael Claire Chicago, Illinois

Rachael Claire's music stirs the soul and awakens people to the divine. As a classically trained violist, folk musician, and multi-instrumentalist, each of her songs display her complex arrangements that flow with a beautiful unity.

In 2016, she won the juried award for "Folk Music" at Grand Rapids' Artprize. ... more

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