Tuesday, August 23, 2011

Reason 85: I blog for peace because it's my way of making a joyful noise

I blog for peace because it's my way of making a joyful noise. 

Randall, somewhere in here: http://www.facebook.com/#!/groups/peacebloggers/ mentioned music, which was cool, because I've been trying to find a way to hook the blog for peace to music.

I love music.  It is probably not true that I married my husband because of his incredible music, but it sure didn't hurt.  I love to hear my children sing, even if their idea of beautiful music is rap or metal and mine... isn't.

On the other hand, I don't make music.  Until recently--- when Mark and I joined the hand bell choir at St Michael and All Angels Episcopal Church.  Now, Laura, the infinitely patient and talented music director, said that we would be fine.  We would have fun.  We would sound wonderful.

And we are having fun.  And Mark sounds wonderful.  And I sound... well, not horrible.  And I'm getting better.

I haven't tried to perform music since Mrs. Bailey kicked me out of the 6th grade choir.  That was after I got kicked out of the 6th grade band. 

I REALLY wanted to play the flute, and Mr. Sistrunk, bless his heart, tried to teach me.  But it seems that being able to make the flute make a sound is an essential part of playing the flute.  Not being able to make a sound with the flute was bad, but not as bad as the various frightening sounds I made when I attempted the clarinet and the saxophone.  And so I went back to home ec, where I didn't hurt anyone.

And what does this have to do with peace?  Well, I don't know.  Oh wait, how about: we all have a part to play, no matter how small or how large.  And we all can find a way to make a joyful noise, sing out for peace, ring out for justice, hammer for love between our brothers and our sisters, all over this land.

Amen.

4 comments:

lucyhz said...

Deep in my heart I have always known that music is for me the most powerful way to communicate. I can still hear the lullaby my mother, grandmother and aunt would sing.
I sing it to all the little ones I hold. Years later, somewhere in their memory they recognize and respond to it.

Mimi Lenox said...

You are so right about the joyful noise. I like your noise.
It is a beautiful sound.

Michelle said...

I got as far (on flute/recorder) as

"POP goestheweeeee..... sel.

That's it. Never got any further and after a year of squeezing the weasel I gave up trying to pop him, poor thing.

PS, have you ever read Cliff Feightner's post on his brother singing in church? it's such a beautiful tribute to the joyous blessing of singing BAD without shame.

Mimi Lenox said...

These posts are incredible. The movement has always been about the power of words. I'm so glad we're blogging reasons. You all continue to amaze me.