Music and Mortality

I found myself inspired today to re-read the Narnia series again. I had a wonderful time reading - and blogging about - the series a couple of years ago, but it's the kind of reading feeding material that deserves a regular visit I think.

So I sat down - or rather lay down - this afternoon with the Magician's Nephew. I'm a quick reader, but I forced myself to slow down, almost reading aloud, for the many beautiful passages describing the creation of Narnia. I could almost hear Aslan's voice singing Narnia into being, then the stars joining in, and the shear fruitfulness of the ground that cannot help but respond. My whole mind and body responds even to the thought of that singing, with recognition and joy, like a forgotten memory. Singing, yes - Jesus! O to have been there - but then we will be next time!

Speaking of heavenly music, a recent discovery has been 'Spem in Alium' by Thomas Tallis (listen to it sung by the Tallis Scholars on YouTube). A truly beautiful choral piece, it requires 8 choirs of 5 parts each (40 singing parts in total) and is designed for a cathedral. Rich and complex yet pure and simple, the interweaving melodies are haunting then joyful; completely wonderful. I would absolutely love to go to a live performance of this - and would travel a fair distance - so if anyone hears of a performance anywhere, please let me know!

But back to the Magician's Nephew. There's a moment at the beginning of Narnia when Aslan 'calls' the Cabbie's wife and she suddenly appears, whisked away from the Earth in the middle of her laundry! I was shocked to discover my reaction to this event - what, give her no warning? but what if she wanted to bring something? say goodbye? - and forced to reflect on my own silliness (even as the questions raced through my mind, I was simultaneously appalled and amused!). But actually it was not the mortality question necessarily that rocked me, the fact that of course we can't take anything when we die, but actually the conviction that I am too attached to 'things'.

What 'thing' left on Earth could possibly matter when brought to this wonderful new place of Narnia - why should she need or miss anything when Aslan himself is there? I know this will be true when we meet Jesus and live with him on the new Earth, so why do I have this attachment to 'things' that have no lasting value? I couldn't even think of anything particular I might have wanted to pick up had it been me whisked away - it was a general sense of disattachment. I have had the general sense for a number of months now that I want to 'lighten the load' and get rid of some stuff, because I have too many things, so this was an encouragement to me that that's true. I want to lose some of the excess weight, tone up, lighten up, be more flexible, temporary, ready to leave... So it's going to be 'give away' season! (feel free to help out! :)

Send the Fire!

I've recently been appreciating the usefulness of the Kingsway music site for downloading individual worship tracks.

But I'm disappointed to find that one of my current favourites isn't yet available for MP3 download...

O GOD OF BURNING, CLEANSING FLAME:
Send the fire!
Your blood-bought gift today we claim:
Send the fire today!
Look down and see this waiting host,
And send the promised Holy Ghost;
We need another Pentecost!
Send the fire today!
Send the fire today!

God of Elijah, hear our cry:
Send the fire!
And make us fit to live or die:
Send the fire today!
To burn up every trace of sin,
To bring the light and glory in,
The revolution now begin!
Send the fire today!
Send the fire today!

It’s fire we want, for fire we plead:
Send the fire!
The fire will meet our every need:
Send the fire today!
For strength to always do what’s right,
For grace to conquer in the fight,
For power to walk the world in white:
Send the fire today!
Send the fire today!

To make our weak hearts strong and brave:
Send the fire!
To live, a dying world to save:
Send the fire today!
Oh, see us on Your altar lay,
We give our lives to you today,
So crown the offering now we pray:
Send the fire today!
Send the fire today!
Send the fire today!

William Booth (1829 –1912)
Adpt. Lex Loizides
Copyright © 1994 Thankyou Music

I especially love the last verse of this song. I love the beauty of the line 'to live, a dying world to save'. And the last few lines are, for me, the heart of the song. Their profound truth - and challenge - hit me every time I sing it. There's a principle which I've only recently been coming to grips with: the fire comes on the offering, on the sacrifice.

If I want to see the fire and the power of God in my life there has to be sacrifice. The power and righteousness of God is revealed in me when my life is given over to him. The fire comes to crown the offering - the sacrifice of my life. And as the first verse indicates, this is a consuming fire 'to burn up every trace of sin'. When I ask God to send the fire I better realise what I'm asking for! But how can we live with anything less?

This is my theme song right now - appropriate for the season maybe!
We need another Pentecost! It's fire I want, for fire I plead. Send the fire today!

Feel it?

'Worship is like love: the more you do it the more you feel it.'

Jesus said, "where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." (Luke 12:34) I've heard this amusingly referred to as "where your investment is, there your interest will be also." There's so much truth in this - in the same way we closely follow the fortunes of our material investments, our hearts are also interested in our investments of time and energy. Jesus is talking about storing up treasure in heaven, making the point that if we invest more deeply in God's kingdom, then our eyes and hearts will inevitably follow.

When we worship, as when we love, we make an 'investment' in something other than ourselves. It's a mysterious truth that when we invest time and energy in a relationship, when we give our focus and attention to someone else, we find ourselves caring about them more than when we begun. That seems backwards to most people - why would you want to invest in someone you didn't care about? Why would you show love to someone that you didn't feel love towards?

I've been reflecting on the way we often seem to have that same sense when we come to worship God. But it would be a poor show if we only worshipped when we felt like it. Yes, our worship should be true and more than mere words, but my sense is that - like love - it ultimately springs from a decision, rather than an emotion. We ultimately worship, not because we feel like it, or even because God feels particularly real to us today or He's answered our prayers (although these are all good reasons!), but because He is overwhelmingly worthy of praise.

We sung Tim Hughes' song Almighty God last night, which reminds us that "If we did not praise, the rocks would cry out". There's obviously a lot more that could be said on the majesty and awesomeness of God, but I hope you'll be able to fill in the gaps...

My current reflection, however, is based on my initial statement. It is my experience, and I imagine I am not alone, that worshipping God, whether it started as a 'natural' response, or a conscious decision, tends to make us more worshipful. I apologise if this seems completely obvious to you; it is the first time I have articulated it this way. I notice in myself, particularly in singing songs of worship, but also in reading worship in scripture, that my feelings of wonder and thankfulness and, well, worship, tend to increase with use. In general, the more I worship, the more I feel like worshipping.

My cynical self wonders if this is in some way related to the way we often worship in groups, encouraging each other, or the way in which music tends to improve our mood generally. But since both of these aspects feature heavily in worship throughout Scripture, I can't help but conclude that any positive effect they have is altogether intended. In fact, both seem almost designed for worship. The Church is foremost a worshipping community, and if any creative expression has supernatural dimensions, it is surely music.

Just a glimpse

My mp3 playlists are constantly changing, but my current collection is about as strange as they get! Here's a sample of what I've been listening to recently:

Landslide - Fleetwood Mac (live)
Crosses - Jose Gonzales
Broken - Jack Johnson
Second Hand News - Fleetwood Mac
Hoppipolla - Sigur Ros
Answer in the Sky - Elton John
Reign - UNKLE
Les nuits - Nightmares on Wax
Protection - Massive Attack
Saltwater - Chicane
Hope - Faith Evans (feat Twista)
Fake Plastic Trees - Radiohead
The letter that never came - Thomas Newman
Goodbye my lover - James Blunt
I will always love you - Whitney Houston
Send someone away - Embee
Dead in the water - David Gray
Lose yourself - Eminem
8 Mile rap battles!

"Do you love your wife?"

Yesterday evening Chris Juby played a song by 'Brother Don' (otherwise known as Don Francisco) which surprised me in its spot-on-ness. I found this website, where you can download an MP3 of 'The Steeple Song' - recommended!

"..the thing I need I need to ask you is have done the things I said..
Do you love your wife? "

music meltdown

I was reflecting this evening on the effect music has on me. I love music of all kinds, and I find it hard to pin down any particular type of music as a favourite.

I've discovered that for me, music serves as a kind of emotional and mental warm up, like stretching for physical exercise. Some of that warm up comes from the lyrics of a song, rehearsing situations and emotions, but not all. The music itself, the chords, the melody, the rhythm, has an effect beyond the lyrical content.

I started thinking about this because of the way that music makes me want to pray. I play cds in the car and for a few weeks I've been playing a worship cd which has been really good for me. But recently I've started playing some other, more secular, cds and I've noticed that as soon as the music comes on I immediately relax, my mood improves and I want to pray. Have I just been conditioned?

It's as if it has an almost physical effect on me, a washing over. I can feel it happening! My brain runs more smoothly, my emotions come closer to the surface, I feel happier. I was listening to Rhythm of the Saints on the way home today and the rhythm woke me right up, made me smile..tapping on the steering wheel and bopping away!
All kinds of music have this effect. I've been listening to old cheese, Jars of Clay, Paul Simon...
When i used to go to Planet of Sound weekly, a few years back now, I had some of my best prayer times of the week on the trance floor - strange I know! Dancing has a similar effect on me. Actually, someone lent me an old trance cd recently and I've found it excellent for working to.

Does anyone else have this happen to them?

Return to trance?

I've been listening to a track called 'Flaming June' by Paul Van Dyke.
It's reminding me how much I enjoy trance. Despite trying to 'mature' in musical taste over the last few years, some things stay constant. Even as I listen, I wonder at it - such a strange thing to enjoy, and part of me doesn't. But then the melody kicks in and I'm suddenly feeling higher, lighter. Part of it is a nostalgic effect I think..brings back memories of losing myself in dancing in Planet of Sound. But it still makes my heart beat, uplifts my mood.

I have odd musical taste. Vic was listening to someone in the kitchen earlier and suddenly I was reminded of John Denver and had a wave of nostalgia. There's little music that I don't like actually. Mostly the stuff I dislike falls into the category of 'can't dance to it, can't sing to it' - not sure what this means! I guess both dancing and singing are uplifting, emotional in some way.