Music

I’m about as left-brained as it gets. Or is it, right brain? Regardless, whichever side is the non-creative side. Ironically, because I’m logic-driven and an introvert, I appreciate music, especially the melody.

I think I’ve described my music history before, but in case I haven’t - my parents and the music teacher picked the clarinet for me when I was in 5th grade. I played that until I was a freshman in high school, the cork broke and it was going to be in the shop for over a month. The music teacher conned me into playing the tuba for my last three years of high school.

She did me a huge favor because it exposed me to the bass clef, so I had a wider range of understanding of musical notes. I figured out I enjoyed the feeling of the melody even if I couldn’t perform it. I also came to appreciate that being in a group meant creating something more than what most anyone could create by themselves.

Sure, I enjoyed the rock ‘n roll of the 70s, but even then, I gravitated more toward artists like Barry Manilow and Chuck Mangione. Because I’m a geek, I was more familiar with Doc Severinsen and his ability to play without breathing than I was with learning the lyrics of almost any pop song of the day. I admired the craft as well as the artists.

Elder Ben Jackson just preached on Ephesians 5. He did an excellent job.  However, my one complaint was that I think he didn’t give enough emphasis to the later part of the portion of the chapter he was preaching on.

“Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. Therefore, do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit, addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart, giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ.” - Ephesians 5:15-21 ESV

For example, he could have pointed out that, although we think of Psalms as a book in the Bible, all the psalms were originally hymns not much different than the hymns we sing today. That puts a slight spin on the “addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart” part of that verse.

I genuinely believe that worshipping God through song is letting your soul loose from your mind constraints if you will only let it.

The next time you can sing along, let go of the experience from your mind and let your soul worship God. You might find you have a whole new appreciation for music. Hey, if a left-brain introvert can do it, you can too.