Singing Together

Over the past two days, I’ve reflected on the gift of music. We continue that theme again today.

I like to sing in the car or shower when no one is around. But, think about how powerful it is when we raise our voices together. There really are not too many public places left where we sing together.

I remember being at a graveside for the first time. I was a student pastor in seminary and there was a suicide in my congregation. I stood by the wife, the brother, as we joined our voices to these words on that clear cold day: Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound…

I remember on September 11, that evening singing the Kyrie in a prayer service: Lord have mercy, Christ have mercy, Lord have mercy upon us… Within the music, we are somehow bound together…

One of the most touching moments at my church was a moment in the fellowship hall. Our Parish Associate was teaching a class on the parables. This happened to be a difficult moment in my life and I was going through a lot. At the end of the class, we stood and sang together: Seek Ye First the Kingdom of God. I remember looking around the room surrounded by people who I knew loved me and cared for me, and I felt that love. I felt God’s presence. And I wondered: Is this what the kingdom of God will be like? Will I see them again one day? Will all that is wrong be made right?

All this was raised within me by a simple song.

As has been my prayer these last few days, I pray that you would come to see music as yet another means by which you might draw closer to the source of life, to the One who gives life. May music for you, be an instrument of prayer. And, may you find yourself singing in tune with the music of creation, the music of love, the music of hope, the music of God’s heart.

Let us pray: Sing a song of faith and hope in our hearts, O God, even as we sing to you. And may the music of your love resound through our lives, by the way that we live and love; in Christ’s name. Amen.