Tuesday, June 3, 2008

Dear God,

What is the real source of music? How does it get locked in the heart, a lock with no key? How does music rise up out of someone?

How I remember being at the farm, standing at Grandma's old upright piano, just singing away, any kind of song, mostly hymns, gospel songs, church music. Grandma had all kinds of songbooks, mainly hymnals from the church. I'm not really sure she could read music but she did know how to play chords. She mostly played by ear.

I have loved to sing since I was a little girl. Singing always makes me feel good even if it is a sad song. There's just something about opening my mouth to sing about you. Often I feel I am singing you a love song. And that alone makes me happy.

But where does it come from? Heaven? It can't just solely be a function of the body. Vocal chords, mouth, and mind. It has to be more. Because it draws so much from the human and divine spirit, it has to be more.

I've been watching my flock very closely on Sunday mornings. I'm seeing a strange phenomena. Spirits are coming alive as the music lifts toward heaven. They're movin' and swayin'. I can't make them do that. Our musician is releasing something within us. But I'm not completely sure he has the power either. He can play and play wonderfully well; however, can he really stir us up, releasing a joyous power within us? I still believe there is a divine power within the music that does much more than the music itself, no matter how beautifully it is played or sung.

What is the source of this music?

Let it flow,
Lord God,
let that music flow
out and in,
in and out.
Let it release something
within us.
Let it
get trapped
inside us.
Let it be
the song
of the spirit,
daily singing
and playing.
Let your song
be the song
we sing,
the song
of truth,
of revelation,
of hope
and strength,
of purpose
and joy.
Let the music
be the
song of God
and
let the song of God
be the only song
we sing.

Loving you, Andrea