Saturday, February 20, 2021

​“Praise the Lord!
Praise God in his sanctuary;
    praise him in his mighty firmament!
Praise him for his mighty deeds;
    praise him according to his surpassing greatness!
Praise him with trumpet sound;
    praise him with lute and harp!
Praise him with tambourine and dance;
    praise him with strings and pipe!
Praise him with clanging cymbals;
    praise him with loud clashing cymbals!
Let everything that breathes praise the Lord!
Praise the Lord!”   Psalm 150
Have you ever had one of those driveway moments? You know, when you need to stay in the car to finish singing along with a song. How about the feeling that Christmas isn’t Christmas without carols? Weddings need to have all of the love songs and group dances that help celebrate the occasion, right? Summer camps and VBS aren’t the same without songs.
 
Typically, one of the goals is to share the love of Jesus while bringing everyone closer together. What better way than with a song (or two). One of my favorite camp songs has its roots in Psalm 150, “Praise the Lord with a Trumpet Sound” (you’re welcome for the earworm I may have planted for some of you). This is a joyous uplifting ever-praising song that just makes you smile about Jesus and how blessed we are. If you are anything like me, music is a bright spot in my world.
 
Of course, you won’t find me in the choir, but I am happy belt out a tune with a group, the shower, restaurants, and, yes, in the car. Music allows us to say words we couldn’t write, convey meanings we couldn’t share, dance and move to rhythms, feel feelings we just need to get out, and cement memories in times of remembrance. This holds true for times of sadness, anger, hardship, and joy.
 
In this time of pandemic, I have found my relief in music.  Psalms, hymns, pop, musicals, country, classical, carols, sea shanties; you name it I will listen, sing along, and thank God for the gifts he has shared.
 
“Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia, Amen!”
Cindy Fritz