'A TRIBUTE TO HEROES'

Melanie Stetson Freeman

In times of turmoil, we often turn to music for inspiration to help our spirits soar. Bruce Springsteen's recent performance as part of "A Tribute to Heroes" (a telethon to raise money for victims of the World Trade Center disaster) reminded me of the great inspiration he's provided me over the years. Every time he steps onto the stage, the qualities he expresses—energy, strength, humility, compassion—are uplifting. While his songs speak of the challenges facing humanity, they also tell us there is a solution when we work together as brothers and sisters. The love he has for his music and his fans is infectious. As this photo illustrates, onstage he embodies joy and takes his listeners along for the ride.

Melanie Stetson Freeman
Boston, Massachusetts

Bruce Springsteen as he
performed his opening song
at Boston's Fleet Center,
August 2000.
This photo originally appeared in
The Christian Science Monitor.