Marilyn and art Carpenter
“Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth; Break forth into joyous song and sing praises! Sing praises to the Lord” Psalms 98:4-5
I love to sing! I sing when I clean house; I sing when I hike in bear country; I sing when doing a jigsaw puzzle. I sang to my children and I sing to my grandchildren. I do not sing around other people; I am not a good singer. My family is polite. They know my songs are saying, “I love you!” I may not get the tune right and I may be off-key, but they feel my caring for them in every verse.
I have often wished that I had a lovely singing voice, that someone would hear me sing and say, “You should be in choir!” or “We could use you in our musical!” Alas, what I have heard is more along the lines of, “Not everyone can be in the choir. I’m sure you have some other talent.” As I mature, this doesn’t bother me as much as it used to. Didn’t John Wesley say something about singing “lustily and with a good courage”? Yes, and he added, “Be no more afraid of your voice now, nor more ashamed of its being heard.”
I like to think that when I sing to God, that God also doesn’t mind if my notes may not match the ones in the hymnal. I’m pretty sure that God cares more about the feeling in my heart than the purity of my voice. Some songs touch my heart so much that tears spring to my eyes when I just see them printed in the bulletin and know we’ll be singing them soon. The “Hymn of Promise” and “Here I Am, Lord” take my breath away. My singing may not be exact, but it is “joyous!”
Nature is filled with joyous songs of the Lord: honking geese, babbling brooks, softly falling rain, calls of birds, even snorts of moose! (A strange question pops into my mind: do birds ever sing “off-key”?) There are an infinite number of joyful noises in the world. God’s creation is a symphony of life and love and joy. This symphony is for everyone. Some may hear it with their ears, some with their eyes, some with their hearts. If it fills you with joy, then it brings you closer to God.
In this challenging time of social distancing, how lucky are those of us who can step outside, who can access the joy of nature. Yet, we can sing inside or out. We can feel God’s love in the house or in the woods. We can find our own way to sing God’s praises.
What makes you feel joyous? What ways do you sing God’s praises? Do you use your voice? Do you use your hands? Do you use your mind? Do you use your heart? When you feel your heart fill with the love of God, then you can sing praises! When you share that love with others, then you are making a joyful noise to the Lord!
This week, listen for the music of God. Look for ways you can be joyful. Share God’s love and joy with others. Sing with whatever tune and key you want. You are part of God’s symphony.
Thank you, God, for creating such a marvelous symphony of life and love and joy. Thank you for helping us be a part of that symphony. Let us be your instruments. In Christ’s name, we pray.
Marilyn Carpenter has three wonderful grandchildren, who all live here in Anchorage, which is why she and her husband Art live in Alaska. They moved here 12 years ago from San Diego when their first grandson was born. A retired family therapist, Marilyn can recite the lines from “When Harry Met Sally,” as well as sing all the songs from “Sound of Music.” (Of course, she will not sing them in public.)