成人快手

Good morning.

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When a memorable performance by guitarist Jimi Hendrix provided the finale to the Woodstock Festival on this day in August 1969, the event had brought together an audience of nearly half a million people, who gathered for 鈥�3 days of music and peace鈥�, just outside New York City.

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There鈥檚 something truly memorable about being at a concert or a sporting event, and telling the tale afterwards of a dramatic performance or a famous victory.

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Psychologists and anthropologists have long explored the mindset of a crowd; how it can seem almost animate and sentient, able to express a whole spectrum of emotions from ecstasy to despair.

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Sometimes a crowd can be a vehicle for protest, showing defiance in the face of injustice or adversity; or it can simply be quiet, reflective and respectful in the face of grief.

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So perhaps it鈥檚 no surprise that some of us relate easily to the Biblical accounts of crowds following Jesus throughout his ministry, searching out a charismatic figure with a reputation as a teacher, a healer and a miracle worker, or even calling for his crucifixion on the first Good Friday,

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But there are also times when we鈥檙e reminded of the need to stand out from the crowd, and stand up to that norm of compliance to the collective will.听 To my mind, this is exemplified when Jesus challenged the cultural conventions of his society and confronted the religious leaders of his day.

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For the rest of us, standing out from the crowd and even standing against a tide of opinion can be hard, even in the mundane routine of work, family or friends, let alone in front of a crowd of thousands, because it means being a lone voice, backed up only by the strength of conviction founded on values, moral determination or religious faith, all of which can waver when they鈥檙e really tested.

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So today Lord, give us hearts and minds that are clear and decisive; give us wisdom to know when to make a stand鈥�and courage when we need to stand out from the crowd.听 Amen.