In Praise of Music

Music.

What more can I say?

This one word stirs imagination, memory, and soul,

Dear God and Creator of all that is good.

God, creator of music.

 

Music,

Our ability to make it,

The ways it impacts brain, soul, and spirit,

The global variety of musical expression,

The messages it carries,

Love, hope, grief, friendship, peace, justice.

The rhythms of dance.

 

All of creation makes music,

Rustling leaves, rhythm of a pecking woodpecker, beat of a bird’s wings, trumpet of an elephant’s call, rain, wind,

Foot steps,

Breathing lungs and beating hearts,

Drum, cymbal, guitar, piano, pan flute, trombone, bag pipes, rain stick, gong,

Marimba, cello, balalalika, sitar, tambourine, kalimba, gamelan, dulcimer, kazoo,

Clap, whistle, stomp, hum,

Vibrations.

 

Our souls,

Our world,

Needs hopeful music,

Lyrics that inspire,

Melodies that unite,

Riffs that challenge,

Harmonies to join,

Rhythms of our common humanity, the common good,

Beats that move our feet, that make us sway,

Grand arias,

Quiet lullabies,

Hymns of praise,

Psalms of lament,

Raps of justice.

 

Creator God,

In pandemic and quarantine, in loneliness and separation,

In hope and relief, in connection and friendship,

We praise you for the gift of music.

May we listen to, make, and sing music of hope and love,

Music that glorifies You.

Amen.

Note- image from Google Free Photos, Pexels; words by Lida Merrill

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A Monday Morning Thought & Prayer

When random thoughts pop into my mind I pause.

I have found that often the thought leads to deeper thoughts and ideas.

This morning’s thought was in a conversation with my dog:

“We don’t make the sunshine.”

 

We do not make the sunshine,

But we know Who does.

 

We did not conjure compassion,

But we know Who gave it to us.

 

We discover medicines and cures,

But we know who is the true Healer.

 

We did not create the healing salve of nature,

But we know the Creator.

 

We dance, sometimes to the beat of a different drummer,

But You created the beat.

 

We make music but it did not originate in us,

But we know the First Composer.

 

We can not make fix grieving hearts,

But we know Who does.

 

We did not create love,

But we know the One Who is Love.

 

To the Creator, Healer, Composer, Artist, Comforter, Love, be the glory.

Amen.