Unless you ride you won’t completely understand this but I’m sooo happy to have my motorcycle on the road again. I had a small oil leak which meant replacing a gasket. Only a $25 repair but it took six weeks for the new gasket to arrive! On Friday I was finally on the road again. From Friday to Sunday I ran through a tank and a half of gas. Ahhh, the joy of a satisfied craving. Delayed gratification is a beautiful thing . . . when the delay is over!
Starting your day with a ride on the bike is almost heaven on earth. I’m in the office early enjoying the quiet before everyone else arrives. I am thinking about our Zoom meeting yesterday, a necessary “second-best” because of the rain. It really is GREAT to connect each week. Zoom is good, gathering is better - but I can’t wait until we have the full-on time of coffee, singing, and hanging out together like in the good old days six months ago. Right now the full dynamic of being a church family is in delayed gratification mode.
One of the things I have missed the most is singing together. God has blessed us with incredibly talented musicians. Their presence is missed.
God hard-wired us for singing. What do most radio stations play? Music. Back in the ‘80’s there was concern that “video killed the radio star.” It didn’t. What makes clubs and bars popular? You can sing and dance. Lots of people love to sing in front of others at karaoke night. Go to a ball game and what happens in the seventh-inning stretch? You sing, “Take Me Out To The Ball Game.” Hockey game? It’s Stompin’ Tom Conners’ “The Good Ol’ Hockey Game.” Alone in the car? You sing.
I get why we aren’t singing right now - and I agree with the wisdom of restraint. But I miss it. So this morning, since I arrived early and had the office to myself, I decided to sing. Wanna join me? Here are two of the songs. Turn up the volume and let it rip.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zY5o9mP22V0
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8kvFtXphmMU
(You have to click the link to see the song - my way of delaying the gratification a little:-)).
To the best of my knowledge, all people in all cultures, all faiths and creeds, have some kind of singing. We may debate whether guitars or drums are acceptable. Or if there should be any instruments at all. We may be divided whether we prefer Skillet or the Maranatha Singers. Those things are secondary. We can’t - yet - sing together, but we can sing. Just like twisting the throttle on a motorcycle, “Let her rip!”
SING!
Oh give thanks to the LORD, call upon His name;
Make known His deeds among the peoples.
Sing to Him, sing praises to Him;
Speak of all His wonders.
Glory in His holy name;
Let the heart of those who seek the LORD be glad.
Sing to the LORD, all the earth;
Proclaim good tidings of His salvation from day to day.
Tell of His glory among the nations,
His wonderful deeds among all the peoples.
For great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised;
He also is to be feared above all gods.
For all the gods of the peoples are idols,
But the LORD made the heavens.
Splendor and majesty are before Him,
Strength and joy are in His place.
Ascribe to the LORD, O families of the peoples,
Ascribe to the LORD glory and strength.
Ascribe to the LORD the glory due His name;
Bring an offering, and come before Him;
Worship the LORD in holy array.
Tremble before Him, all the earth; Indeed,
the world is firmly established, it will not be moved.
Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice;
And let them say among the nations,
"The LORD reigns."
(1Ch 16:8-10, 23-31 NASB)
SING!
