My husband and I went to a piano concert at the church this
weekend, and I pondered how much comfort music brings to me. I think it brings a lot of comfort to many people, both
able-bodied and disabled. Bishop Peggy
Johnson even wrote about it in her book, The Church and People With
Disabilities: Awareness, Accessibility,
and Advocacy:
“. . . it was ‘love at first sight’ the first time I saw a choir
of Deaf people signing the ‘Hallelujah Chorus’ at a session of annual
conference. I was working as a vocal
music teacher in the Baltimore County school system at the time. I was mesmerized by the graceful motions of
the words and marveled at the power of the music performed by the hands and
arms of people who could not hear it.”
Deaf choirs have become more common, and more appreciated, as
they interpret music through American Sign Language. And they do more than “sign” the lyrics. They express the emotion of the music, as
well.
I have a sweatshirt that reads:
Bach gave us God’s Word. Mozart gave us God’s laughter. Beethoven gave
us God’s fire. God gave us Music that we might pray without words.” I wear it
because it expresses how much I love music, and some of the composers I enjoy.
During Friday’s concert we were treated to hymns, and original
compositions, and other secular music. A
piece entitled “Dakota Rose” helped me envision the high desert we left for the
coast where we live now. Another named
“Hot Air Balloon” made me smile as I pictured a balloon floating with the wind,
and I thought of our Thai exchange student son enjoying his hot air balloon
ride when he lived with us. “Be Thou My
Vision,” one of my favorite hymns, was played so beautifully it moved me beyond
words as I pictured God in my life guiding me in the way I should go. That is how I see God as my vision.
Small wonder that so many of us find such comfort in music. It can inspire us, soothe us, charm us. Even the nonsense songs I make up and sing to
my dogs serve a purpose; Kirby, the younger dog calms down and quits whining
when he hears “I’m a Baby Monkey.”
I have learned of the American Music Therapy Association, which
works with persons with Parkinson’s Disease to increase motor function, older
adults to reduce the effects of dementia, children with autism to increase
communication, premature infants to improve sleep patterns and improve weight
gain, children and adults to reduce asthma episodes, and hospitalized patients
to reduce pain. Music is indeed a gift
from God!
Come, let us sing for
joy to the Lord;
let
us shout aloud to the Rock of our salvation.
Let us come before him
with thanksgiving
and
extol him with music and song. Psalm
95:1-2
Thank you, Lord, for
the gift of music. Amen