To Sing is to Pray Twice

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Originally published in the South Jetty Newspaper
St. Augustine of Hippo is credited as saying, "He who sings, prays twice." I'm not great at math, but that seems like it adds up. The experience of singing and playing music is one of my favorite ways to pray. Sometimes I lead music, or share a sermon-song in church, sometimes it happens around a campfire or in a music venue. The words and style may change, but to me it is all spiritual. Playing music and listening to music is good medicine for my soul. 

I am not a great music teacher, I have learned, but I have been able to pass along a few guitar chords here and there in an attempt to share the joy of playing music. I learned to play guitar when I was 14 from one of our church ladies, and I haven't stopped playing since. It has helped me in so many ways, not only landing a job a summer camp when I was a teen, but more recently it has been a vehicle to process grief and other emotions. I've written songs about the deaths of my nieces and nephew, and my dad (some of them not to be performed, just for my own work.) The creative process helps unknot the complex bundles of emotions that come from loss and trauma. It is healing, holy work on both the personal and the collective level. Some of our hymns (ancient and modern) draw out emotions I didn't even know were lurking below my persona. Music can guide us to the healing we need, to do our soul work. 

We have been blessed with many talented musicians at church, most of them volunteers, and some paid, who help select the hymns and spiritual songs for the week. I have often quipped that church used multi-sensory learning before it was the popular approach to modern education as we understand it now. From classic organ songs to our ukulele group, singing together and honoring the musical gifts shared in church is an important part of our corporate life. The Body of Christ is given many different gifts, music among them, that help with the ministry of the church: to bring healing and reconciliation to the world. Maybe it's time you get in touch with those musical gifts and skills you have set aside for a time. Listen for the Holy Spirit's prompting to lament the pains of your soul and sing praises of thanksgiving to God. 

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