Only the Good Die Young

stuckinindiana sunrise

The LOML and I recently took a trip across the country from the land of "stuckinindiana" to the beautiful, mountainous state of Colorado to help our son and his new bride move into an apartment on the CUB campus. They'll be there in grad school for the next two years. In the days and weeks leading up to the trip, we tried to organize four years of the lives of two students into what needed to be discarded, saved, and what could successfully be taken without the use of a moving van. As we neared the time of our departure, it became very questionable as to whether or not we could make everything fit in two cars. 

#JoyDare No. 2874. Hard Work... Paying Off

"The hard must become habit. The habit must become easy. The easy then becomes beautiful." ~ Doug Henning

As they sent off audition tapes in the winter & spring, they'd hoped to end up at the same music festival for the summer. I'd told God, more than once, that I'd really love it if we could all end up at the same place... me with our daughter & her baby... our trombone son.. and our French horn "daughter". God had other ideas. Looking back on it, I think we all believe God knew what was best. These two were pretty happy to see each other after being apart for almost 10 weeks during the summer. 

 

The time apart made the reunion sweeter... 

these two worked hard this summer to get better
& to prepare for auditions at school &
to prepare for LIFE in the coming years

Seven weeks of hard work at Chautauqua Institution's Music School Festival for our French horn player prepared her for placement auditions at school for her senior year, as did the 9 weeks of hard work at Brevard Music Center Festival for our trombone guy. Both made life long connections with other musicians during their festivals. Both of them improved on their instruments & cultivated their talent - talents which I feel were lovingly placed there by God.  

 

School begins on Monday for "our kids" as they enter into their senior years at CCM (College Conservatory of Music - University of Cincinnati). They went to Cinci early this week for placement auditions & to begin getting settled into to their apartments. As of yesterday, they found out that they had each been placed into Philharmonia - a top group there at the Conservatory. I am proud of them for working hard. I am thankful that they are seeing the fruits of their labor!

"Work willingly at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people." Colossians 3:23

#JoyDare No. 2874. hard work paying off

Morn Shall Tearless Be

Photo credit T. Getz

"Then God said, “I am giving you a sign of my covenant with you and with all living creatures, for all generations to come. I have placed my rainbow in the clouds. It is the sign of my covenant with you and with all the earth."  Genesis 9:12-13 

A few initial facts: 

• ... my parents played music on the record player (yeah, I'm that old) as my sisters & I were going to sleep most nights
• ... I am viscerally moved by music & lyrics - comforted in times of pain, encouraged in times of uncertainty, quieted in times of turmoil, etc.
• ... when music is paired with TRUTH, I'm often -- undone
• ... I look for ways to get as much music as possible in my normal day-to-day life 

I have a smart-phone and choose songs from my playlist instead of alarm tones for almost ALL of my alarms -- especially the alarms for waking up! My most frequently chosen song for my wake-up alarm is "O Love That Will Not Let Me Go." The version that is on my phone (and iPod) is the one recorded by Bryan Duncan on "Quiet Prayers" which was released in the "My Utmost for His Highest" CD set. Now that we have a little one living in our household, she gets to hear that song a lot.

At various seasons of life, certain stanzas of that song pop out to me. Since I've battled depression & anxiety most of my life, I'd have to say that the following stanza is probably my all time favorite:

Oh JOY that seekest me through pain 

I cannot close my heart to Thee

I trace the rainbow through the rain

And feel the promise is not vain that morn' shall tearless be

I just love the image of JOY seeking me -- no matter what is happening in my life. I have felt that JOY seek me when I have been hiding in my pain. It's something that has helped me go on when I've felt there's no way I could. How did someone come up with those words that bring me to my knees filling me with strength, hope & peace?

George Matheson wrote the lyrics in 1882 and said this about the song:

My hymn was com­posed in the manse of In­ne­lan [Ar­gyle­shire, Scot­land] on the ev­en­ing of the 6th of June, 1882, when I was 40 years of age. I was alone in the manse at that time. It was the night of my sister’s mar­ri­age, and the rest of the fam­i­ly were stay­ing over­night in Glas­gow. Some­thing hap­pened to me, which was known only to my­self, and which caused me the most se­vere men­tal suf­fer­ing. The hymn was the fruit of that suf­fer­ing. It was the quick­est bit of work I ever did in my life. I had the im­press­ion of hav­ing it dic­tat­ed to me by some in­ward voice ra­ther than of work­ing it out my­self. I am quite sure that the whole work was com­plet­ed in five min­utes, and equal­ly sure that it ne­ver re­ceived at my hands any re­touch­ing or cor­rect­ion. I have no na­tur­al gift of rhy­thm. All the other vers­es I have ever writ­ten are man­u­fact­ured ar­ti­cles; this came like a day­spring from on high.

Some nights I lay awake & ask the hard questions of God. He whispers to me, "Sleep my child. I am at work on these things." Some mornings I awake & my eyes begin to fill with tears as I remember the struggles I face or the struggles faced by ones I hold close to my heart. God whispers to me & reminds me that He is at work in all of it - even now. In the times my mind questions... may my heart speak the words of the Psalmist:

"I trust in your unfailing love. I will rejoice because you have rescued me." Psalm 13:5 

O Love That Will Not Let Me Go... sung by the Gaither Vocal Band:

O Love that will not let me go, I rest my weary soul in thee; I give thee back the life I owe, That in thine ocean depths its flow; May richer, fuller be. 

O light that followest all my way, I yield my flickering torch to thee; My heart restores its borrowed ray, That in thy sunshine’s blaze its day; May brighter, fairer be. 

O Joy that seekest me through pain, I cannot close my heart to thee; I trace the rainbow through the rain, And feel the promise is not vain, That morn shall tearless be. 

O Cross that liftest up my head, I dare not ask to fly from thee; I lay in dust life’s glory dead, And from the ground there blossoms red; Life that shall endless be.

 

Linking with Ann Voskamp - A Holy Experience today...

 

An Instrument of Peace

While wearing one of my volunteer hats - communications for MPC Worship Arts ministry, I was preparing to send out a note about our weekend services. It includes the sermon title & text, related scriptures and more. I like to provide video links to the songs we'll be singing so others can listen to & learn songs that will be used in our worship times. (I've cut & pasted in some of the songs we'll be singing this Sunday at the bottom of the page.)

The last section of the note is always entitled "My Thoughts Today" and covers what I feel the Lord has said to me that day as I worked on the note. Some times the words come to my mind faster than I can type them. Other times, it's a bit of a struggle to know that I am writing what God needs me to write at that moment. This week I added a PERSONAL PS...

I'm thanking God today for the changes that have happened in the past year as this new ONE YEAR OLD (who celebrated her first birthday on 1/16/14) has set about a new outlook in many lives. They say that a baby changes everything. This one certainly has helped with so many of the challenges & choices of the past. She is making the future brighter for many. 

THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRAYERS DEAR FRIENDS. We continue to claim God's hand in all of this :) My prayer... LORD, make me an instrument of Your peace - a reflection of Thy love!

As those thoughts came to me, I felt the nudge to share the Peace Prayer of St. Francis of Assisi and a link to the song taken from that prayer. Enjoy both of the following:

Peace Prayer of St. Francis of Assisi 

Lord, make me an instrument of your peace, Where there is hatred, let me sow love; where there is injury, pardon; where there is doubt, faith; where there is despair, hope; where there is darkness, light; where there is sadness, joy. 

O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console; to be understood as to understand; to be loved as to love.

For it is in giving that we receive; it is in pardoning that we are pardoned; and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life. 

Instrument of Peace - sung by the Canadian Tenors

I am moved by music & words of deep truth. I love sharing both. I'm grateful that our church has a blend of the old & new songs at most gatherings. Here are a few songs that we will lift up this Sunday at Madison Park ChoG: 

• Who Can Satisfy -  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZqHNqaS92dU
• New Doxology - Ken & Miller - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CZuLBRSjOU8
• Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=czxd5oa-gi0 
• My Faith Looks Up to Thee - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HofI50AD55Y 
• As the Deer  - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UZv3jzOTE70&feature=related 
• Be Thou My Vision - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5XZ3ja-quhA 

What songs & writings stir your heart? I'd love to know :) 

Linking with Ann Voskamp - A Holy Experience today...

HOPE, Appreciation of Art & Music 10-13-13

I grew up in a home with parents who valued art & music. My mom had begun drawing at very early age. My dad didn't take up painting until he was in his early 60's. But, he fell in love with painting pictures to remember meaningful locations or to document times with his grandchildren. My mom had been brought up on classical music & church music. My dad liked show tunes, the "crooners" & church music. Our home was always full of art & music.

Two of my favorite things to do have always been going to concerts and going to art museums or shows. My husband & I took our children to such events as they were growing up. Today, both children are talented artistically & musically. And, our home continues to be full of music & art. Our daughter is completing her senior year with an art degree and is already helping her daughter create art even at such a young age...

We are blessed to be able to LOVE on that sweet baby grand-daughter. And, if she's anything like her mommy or her uncle, she will be a lover of art & music as well. If she's anything like me... her "DeeDee", she will love art & music.

The other day (when she gave me the card above), I got to watch our sweet little girl for the afternoon. I picked her up at noon & she feel asleep in the car seat listening to classical music as I headed to Mounds State Park. I enjoyed a leisurely drive through the park until she awoke. We headed into the nature museum to look at God's art :) She loved seeing the displays & watching the fish swimming in a large aquarium. She especially loved a little finger puppet in the gift show - a Monarch butterfly. Naturally, since it was my birthday, I had to buy it for her to document our lovely afternoon at the park on my birthday. 

I can see the beauty of the Lord around me in the sunrises & sunsets... in butterflies & hummingbirds... in a smile... in deer grazing on sweet grass by a pond. And, I believe that art & music are some of the greatest forms of God's creation - each reflecting the complexities of God, as well as the simple pure joy. I see God in art & music>

I'm hoping we will have another family member who will grow to appreciate art & music... but, mostly the beauty of God in everything He created. 

Let heaven and earth praise Him, The seas and everything that moves in them. Psalm 69:34 

Let everything that has breath praise the LORD. Praise the LORD! Psalm 150:6

Linking this month with The Nesting Place

 for the 31-day Challenge

Linking with Ann Voskamp - A Holy Experience today...

Silent Music

The other day my attention was caught by the following quote:

“And those who were seen dancing were thought to be insane

by those who could not hear the music.”
Friedrich Nietzsche 

My mind immediately went to my life! There are so many things happening lately that could easily steal the joy (aka the music) from my life. Many of my friends have questioned if I'm in denial about reality. They say things like, "You seem to be doing so well considering... " That's a fair question. Most days it makes no sense to me! 

But, I've chosen to hear the music & keep dancing regardless of what's happening in my life and even harder sometimes - what's happening in the lives of my loved ones. 

When I read the Nietzsche quote, I thought to myself, "Wow, what a great quote to pair with a scripture." First, as is my custom, I decided to see who this "Friedrich Nietzsche" was before I shared the quote. 

Friedrich Wilhelm Nietzsche (1844–1900) was a German philosopher of the late 19th century who challenged the foundations of Christianity and traditional morality. He was interested in the enhancement of individual and cultural health, and believed in life, creativity, power, and the realities of the world we live in, rather than those situated in a world beyond. Central to his philosophy is the idea of “life-affirmation,” which involves an honest questioning of all doctrines that drain life's expansive energies, however socially prevalent those views might be. Often referred to as one of the first existentialist philosophers along with Søren Kierkegaard (1813–1855), Nietzsche's revitalizing philosophy has inspired leading figures in all walks of cultural life, including dancers, poets, novelists, painters, psychologists, philosophers, sociologists and social revolutionaries. (source, Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy)

It's a bit puzzling how someone who challenged the foundations of Christianity says something that speaks directly to how I view my relationship with Christ. 

Another part of the above cited article read:

That Nietzsche was able to write so prolifically and profoundly for years, while remaining in a condition of ill-health and often intense physical pain, is a testament to his spectacular mental capacities and willpower. Lesser people under the same physical pressures might not have had the inclination to pick up a pen, let alone think and record thoughts which — created in the midst of striving for healthy self-overcoming — would have the power to influence an entire century.

I see myself as having ill-health and often intense physical pain. Most of the time my "pain" is from struggling with mild anxiety & depression (worse in the winter months) or battling the insecurities of my youth which attempt to haunt me as an adult. However, despite those "ailments," I feel I'm accomplishing good things & sharing honestly with those who would listen. I totally believe that my honesty might bring hope & encouragement to another with similar struggles. Oh yeah, I'll admit, I get frustrated that I don't accomplish as many things as I think I should in most days. I'm far below the standards of others. But, I rarely ever wonder if I've not accomplished just what I should have done in that day!

My favorite dancing partner!

I give myself no credit for... let's say: "spectacular mental capacities and willpower... inclination to pick up a pen, let alone think and record thoughts which — created in the midst of striving for healthy self-overcoming — would have the power to influence." I give all credit to the One who created me. I totally buy in to the scripture that says, "When I am weak, he is strong." 2Cor12:10  I totally buy in to the scripture that says, "Greater is He who is in me than He who is in the world." 1John4:4 I totally buy in to the scripture that says, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." Phil4:13

Perhaps it's a case of "I say poTAYto & you say poTAHto." If so, I'm still at peace & joyful about my outlook on life. I love to dance when there seems to be NO MUSIC at all :)

God gave each of us the opportunity to choose freely how to believe. Regardless of whether their views are in line with mine, I am grateful that there are people on this planet, from all walks of life, who are dancing when there appears to be no music :)

Are you a dancer?

FOLLOW UP NOTE: The day after I posted this, a good friend & local poet/writer, Chuck Kellum, posted the following poem. I think it's AWESOME...

Joy and Sorrow

Lively we the dancing do

Throughout the full night long.

A vestal sprite plays sweet the song

That buoys us ‘til the dawn.

And glumly he

Who cannot sleep

Does curse our merry way,

As all the while he’ll toss and turn

Until the break of day.

We in our glee

Know of him not,

But he in turn knows well

How he himself was once, like us,

Rapt in nocturnal swell.

And as our hearts rise light with bliss

His falls in dark despair,

Deaf to the tune

That lifts us now

Into the nighttime air.

©2013 by Chuck Kellum

Crazy Connection! - 31 DAYS OF CRAZY - 20 October 2012

My mom & I miss my dad
but, we still feel connected to
him by LOVE!!

I woke up this morning thinking about my dad.  He went to be with Lord ten years ago today.  

Although he's not been with us these past years, I feel a connection to him.  He was a gentle & compassionate man. He didn't have a bad word to say about anyone. The worse thing I ever heard him say about anyone was, "That person must really be going through something rough to act like that." I hope I've taken on some of his admirable qualities.  Below are a few excerpts from a post I wrote about him & the connection we continue to share...

My dad was born to a steel mill worker & a lifelong stay-at-home mom... born in a little white house perched on a small hill on a street lined with a dozen or two nearly identical homes. He led a simple, conservative life, born & raised in that Ohio town. Most of his entertainment consisted of listening to the radio. Music was how he learned of the world beyond his own. I remember him referencing songs & books from his lifetime in his sermons. And, I remember one of his sermons entitled, "What's It All About?" I wonder if it had anything to do with the old song? 

I've learned that while we're here on earth, we won't be able to answer that question about most situations we face. For me, life's answers often aren't clear... the road is frequently steep & winding... the "why's" are many. Yet, for me, my faith holds strong in the One who hung the stars in space, spoke music to life & loves each one of us like a long, long awaited child.

Sometimes, in the wee small hours of the night, I weep over disappointments & losses in my life.  Although there's a profound sense of loss with my father not here any more, his life & his love have helped me to answer many of the "What's It All About?" questions in my life.  I feel a special connection with my father.  I believe that he is somehow in that huge crowd of witnesses to my life of faith.  I can't wait to give him a HUGE hug when I get to heaven :)

His Words: 

(got this idea from Chase Tibbs' blog; because i love the words of God)

• "Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us." Hebrews 12:1
• "Be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid of them! The LORD your God will go ahead of you. He will neither fail you nor forsake you." Deuteronomy 31:6
• "In My Father's house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you." John 14:2

Go check out over 1200 topics
in the 31 days {of change} with...

I Just Gotta SING!

Photo by T. Getz

A few days ago, I could NOT get this thought and this scripture out of my head. Even though my past 2 weeks have been a BIT of a pain, I could only think & feel.... 

How can I keep from SINGING Your praise God?

"You both precede and follow me.

You place your hand of blessing on my head."

Psalm 139: 5

In the middle of every trial & tribulation that God's children experience, HE IS FAITHFUL. His praises should continually come out of us... in our words & deeds, in our expressions & attitudes... in our very being!

(written 27Feb2010)

Not a Fan of Choral Music...

 

Not a fan of choral music... WHAT? Could I truthfully say that? I 'm a long time member of the choir in my church. If I had to list my favorite songs, the list begin with (and consist mainly of) songs that are recorded by specific artists. There are several choral selections that I love but, the majority of the time, I listen to songs by an artist or a small group. I'm not a fan of country music either. I've heard several pieces that were okay to me; however, I can honestly say that I am not a fan of country music. I don't really like hard rock & roll either - aside from the classic rock. WOW, I'm just a picky, stick-in-the-mud music snob.

Well, if I'm not this huge fan of choral music, why do I continue to participate in our church choir? Well, I participate in our church choir because of community... because of accountability... because of support. The choir & Worship Arts ministry at my church is my small group-my family, so to speak. I have friends there who help me to grow in Christ. They ask me the "hard questions". They open their lives to me and give me the strength to make my life more open. They share their struggles & their triumphs. I am challenged to be a better person & a better Christian by those sitting around me AND by the leader of our group, our Pastor of Worship Arts, the director of our choir.

In choral music, you might have a small part for a soloist but, the blend of the voices is what makes the best sound for a choir. We've all been out there & heard one voice sticking out. Sometimes that's an okay thing. But, most times it's not good. You expect a choir to BLEND. When I sing in the choir I am not the soloist! I take direction from the DIRECTOR and allow him to determine what sounds best for the group. In God's kingdome, I'm not the soloist. I must take direction from GOD - often speaking through the leaders & always speaking through the Bible.



photo courtesy of Tom Getz

Do I see the current validity in the use of choral music in the church? I would have to say yes. The lessons to be learned through participating in a choir are great lessons to learn for our relationships with others -- in and out of the church setting. The lessons to be learned from observing & listening to a choral presentation are valuable. We lift Him up so that He is the one seen. There's not really a lot of room for big egos in a choir. It occurs to me that there's not all that much room for big egos in God's church either.

Oh well, those are my "off-the-cuff" thoughts today! Be Blessed... and BE A BLESSING!

Scripture of the Day: Colossians 3:16 says... "Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God."