It's time to start a new year in Boston, and I am so ready to get at it. The petitions and forms are filled out for my new degree program and advisor among other things. My new room is all set up and organized. (I'm determined to keep it in order this year!) The fans (yes, plural) are in the window and the desk. My room really does get that warm. By 3 or 4pm my room feels about 95 degrees (35 Centigrade for my friends outside the US - I'm trying to learn).
What I realized was how much I missed worship at school. I couldn't put my finger on it right away though. I processed it with a professor (and personal mentor). I started thinking it was because the people in worship were mostly my own age. I thought maybe it was because we are mostly on pastoral tracks in our lives. Then I realized the answer came in the singing. It didn't sound like a dirge. The singing was alive - especially the songs that weren't in English. From the singing I realized that there were spirits ready to worship instead of bodies fulfilling a duty. That worship space was alive and so was I in that moment.
I have worked with people who made fun of those who sing praise songs. I agree that some are cheesy and have very little theology in them, but others are born out of a history of oppression and strife. They speak to an undying spirit that clings to faith like a child to a mother. I had never sung "The Summons" as a praise song, and I now think I prefer it that way. I love Bach, Luther, Wesley and the other great musicians who gave us worship music. I just don't think they meant for us to sing with less than joyful hearts.
Bring on the school year! This girl's ready for it!
No comments:
Post a Comment