Simple Faith

I rarely quote the Swedish pop group ABBA, but here I go. This is the chorus from their hit song, Thank You for the Music.

So I say,
Thank you for the music, the songs I’m singing.
Thanks for all the joy they’re bringing.
Who can live without it? I ask in all honesty.
What would life be?
Without a song or a dance, what are we?
So I say, thank you for the music.
For giving it to me

Music is, and always has been, an integral part of who I am. God created me this way. I perceive the world around me as a great symphony. A certain musical phrase, a well-executed key change, or an unexpected augmented chord brings me great joy. I realize this is a “music geek” thing, but I know there are musicians out there who completely understand what I am saying and likely agree with me.

My recent spinal fusion prevents me from playing guitar or making much music for another five weeks. My singing voice has a distinctive “raspy warble” as a result of my windpipe and vocal cords being moved aside to allow the surgeon room to hammer and chisel away at my damaged cervical discs. I share those details to tell you how much I miss the music. But alas, all is not lost – until I recover I can still listen to music!

Last week I stumbled upon a YouTube video of Mary Chapin Carpenter fronting a group of at least 30 female singers for the finale of the CBS Special, Women of Country. From a very young Martina McBride, to early stars, such as Patsy Montana and Kitty Wells, these ladies rocked the house on Carpenter’s song, The Hard Way, in celebration of their arduous journey in a male dominated industry. Tears of joy streamed down my face as I listened and watched all of these singers belt out this song. I’m not even a country music fan and I loved it!

Earlier today I listened to the Hebrew / English folk song, Halleluyah (yes, it’s really spelled that way), performed by the Gospel group, the Isaacs. There is a musical phrase in one part of the song, consisting of a mere four notes, that also makes me cry with joy. Something about the way those four notes are delivered makes me tearfully happy.

I recently saw an old Family Circus cartoon with one child explaining the workings of a trumpet to a younger child. The caption reads, “When you blow through here it turns your breath into music.” That simple statement is incredibly profound in light of Psalm 150, the praise psalm.

A Psalm of Praise.

We are created to sing and dance with joyous praise before our Lord. With every breath God has given me and with tears of joy flowing, I will praise the Lord. Thank you for the music.