When harmony is perfect, i honestly do think it's just a little bit of heaven that God allows us to experience. There's nothing like it! Last Sunday after church at school some of the churh members took the college students out to lunch. I sat across from a guy named Zach, who is a part of the choir and the prestigious men's choir. We got into a conversation about the music department at school and what potential it has in different areas...about scholarships and the like. Anyway, I asked him if he had enjoyed church that morning, and his response was something close to, "Yes, so much, and I love the music, because that's the only time I really get to sing when choir isn't in session." "What?" I asked with a grin, "...don't you sing out loud in the car?" "Sure. I love to sing. But I can't harmonize with myself, Amanda."
Later in the week, God brought this back into my mind during my reading:
Finally, all of you, live in harmony with one another; be sympathetic, love as brothers, be compassionate and humble. 1 Peter 3:8
Zach isn't a flippant guy, and what he said really carries some depth to it. Yeah, he's right, you can't harmonize with yourself...unless you can sing two notes at once (without a kazoo, mind you! :D ). Anyway, I was reading and the word harmony actually came up in scripture! Not a coincidence at all, but rather a lesson from God. The point is, when you unite with other believers in fellowship and Christian community, it makes your walk with Christ have an exponential effect...just like when two instrumentalists play together. Let me use a personal example, my brother and his friend Will both play the guitar, and they are both VERY good. I had heard my brother play alone and in many ensembles before, but when he played with Will, it was like they just "clicked." I mean, their brains are somehow connected and they just flow really well and are on the same guitarist wavelength or something. This is my point here I guess: being a Christian is a personal relationship with God through Jesus Christ. It's a beautiful thing. But just as a violinist can play solos, it is also beneficial to play in ensembles...to learn to work with others and to have to depend on something outside of yourself. It's the same with being a Christian. It's definitely a process for everyone...you won't be a perfect violinist when you pick up the violin (or ever, but it still takes practice to grow and develop good habits as a player. It's frustrating, you go through many challenges...
I think my point has been made. What a beautiful metaphor! Yo-Yo Ma is one of my favorites, and I love to hear his solo albums...I used to listen to Elgar all the time. But also, I love his work in the Memoirs of A Geisha soundtrack. How beautiful! I think when we can come together for the cause of Christ, combine our talents and gifts that He has given us, it allows us to grow as players individually while also allowing the 'ensemble' to "gel," as one of my not-so-favorite orchestra directors used to say.
Also, I think it's imortant to get past the first part of that verse, because it gives intstruction as to how to do this, how to carry this out as believers.
SYMPATHY
LOVE
COMPASSION
HUMILITY
What a wonderful lesson, especially as I am living at home again! :D To learn to live in harmony with my family again, long-term, (well for about a month until camp starts!) and to love them, and to employ all of these things that God wants me to in order to "gel" our ensemble! This is so exciting!
--Practicing, so that when we play together, it will be something to take in--
***Harmony, harmony, let's all join in harmony, to sing away the hurt and fear, a great new day will soon be here***
Amanda
PS-The end performance...we'll all be in harmony...and with Jesus! Great! That's what we're practicing for, right!?!?!
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