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Posts tagged ‘Words’

Music Unites but Words Can Divide

Well, not all words divide. But think about it. Words are divided into different languages and when we don’t understand our neighbors’ words, their “foreign language” divides us.

Music, on the other hand, is universal. A staff of 5 lines with a treble clef or a bass clef on it contains notes that can be understood and played world-wide. The universality of music unites us.

Earlier this week I wrote about how music and words are similar. But today I am contemplating the ways they are different. Take the words away from the music and just play the notes. A guitar speaks universally. A piano has the same black and white keys in Montana or Madagascar. A violin sings the same song in New York or New Guinea.

Tonight I almost missed the chance to publish a blog today. I was too wrapped up in my favorite TV program: The Voice. Why do I love it so much that I tape it so I’m sure I don’t miss an episode? It’s all about the sound. The music. The voice. The judges don’t get to SEE the artist until they decide they like what they hear, and they turn their chair around.

Some artists get no chair turns. He or she could be the world’s most beautiful person, but the music coming out of them is the chair-turning determiner.

A variety of musical genres are represented. Country, jazz, blues, pop, folk. Tonight the ages of the artists ranged from 13 to 40-something. Age is not the determining factor. Music speaks to every heart. We may like the sound or not, but beautiful music unites across all ages, race, gender, religions.

We may have our favorite genre. But we are united in the harmony of sound and the appreciation of a great performance.

Do you tune in to The Voice? If not, do yourself a favor. Stop and listen. Let 13 year-old Kennedy inspire you. Let beautiful Radha amaze you. Fly with “The Clark Kent” of music as you rock to the range of Patrique. This is going to be a great season!

Don’t let the judges bantering words divide you. Let us all be united in awe of the musical talent of these inspiring performers.

Are you with me?

Category:

Living in Harmony, music

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Words and Music

What do words and music have in common?

In this week’s Time magazine, Yo-Yo Ma made several interesting points. “Music is organized sound…” he said. And he continued by adding, “…just as words are organized alphabet.” We could go on to see that writing is organized words, and profound literature is carefully organized thought. Without organization, there would be chaos. Disorganized notes are noise. Words disorganized are meaningless.

Like music, words must be varied to create beauty. In today’s Daily Word devotional, the message said, “… harmony cannot be achieved if we are all singing the same note. When we add our own uniqueness to everything we do, we add depth and meaning.” Our individuality shines through our words, thoughts, and actions, as well as our music.

Music needs all eight notes on the scale and every sharp and flat in between to create great symphonies, exquisite melodies, pleasing harmonies. Likewise, our voices, whether sharp or flat, congruous or dissonant, need to be heard. Our thoughts need to weigh in.

Yo-Yo Ma said our world demands discussion if there ever is hope for harmony. Discussion can resolve discord. Democracy demands discussion. Life demands organized sound, notes of harmony, organized words, civil discourse, if we ever are to have peace.

Ponder those thoughts and join me in prayer: “Almighty Creator, may our words and our music add rich depth and meaning and peace to our world!”

Amen?

Let your words weigh in. Which of your blogs added to peace in our blogging world recently? Is that one of your goals?

Category:

Living in Harmony, Love, music, writing

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Living in One Accord

(Notes from a sermon based on Romans 8:12-17 delivered by Rev. Jean Johnson. Many of you know, to listen more intently, I take notes on Sunday mornings while listening to the message from the pulpit. Sometimes they are recorded in poetry. Last Sunday was one of those times.)

We all are God’s children.

Some call God, “Our Father.”

But, some folks choose to ignore Him.

They balk and say, “Why bother?”

God speaks to us in Romans,

To us who’ve already heard.

It’s not for the unknowing

Who think the Gospel’s absurd.

Those led by God’s Spirit

Are children of our Lord.

We show our Love and faith

By living in One Accord.

To live in One Accord with God,

We worship, study, love, and pray.

Our witness shows The Spirit

At work in us each day.

We’re living out the reality

Of what already is in us.

Be who you already are

Without works or trouble or fuss.

We used to belong to sin,

But Jesus came to the rescue.

We have reason for joy and acceptance.

Isn’t this Good News to you?

We have assurance of this reality –

This adoption is done, signed and sealed.

We sing praises to God, our Father.

Our case clearly has been appealed.

Knowing God as Father is possible

By Christ’s life, His Word, His death.

That evidence is proof enough;

We affirm it with every breath.

I believe in God, The Father,

In Jesus Christ, my loving Lord.

Thank You for Your Saving Grace.

Now, let us live in One Accord.

Amen?

Category:

Bible Lessons, Faith, Living in Christ's Family, Living in Harmony, Love, Poetry, respect, Spiritual Gifts

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The Pipes Didn’t Speak

Wholesale supply plumbing materials and fittings

I wanted him to come
And check out why we wait
For five minutes or more
To have hot water pour
Out of our kitchen faucet.

He never showed to say
Just what the problem is,
And when I called to ask,
He said he didn’t come
Because the pipes didn’t speak.

Hello! I asked the plumber how
He expects to run a business
That relies on the audible voices
Of the pipes he’s paid to fix.
How does that really work?

It’s a little like a writer who sits
At the computer and waits to hear
The keys speaking the words
That will eventually end up
On the screen or on paper or blog.

The pipes didn’t speak to me.
The keys didn’t tell me what to write.
I need to be inspired by the tools
I rely on for my work.
Clear whatever’s blocking my pipes.

Category:

Life's Challenges

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Feeling: The Language of the Heart

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In his book, Be!, James Dillet Freeman wrote, “Feeling is the unforgotten language of the heart; you could speak it before you learned words, the language of the mind.”

 

What are you feeling now? Feelings were there in your heart before your mind conjured the words to describe them. Sometimes feelings are never put into words. They just lie there in the heart – unforgotten.

 

Often the work of psychiatrists is to draw out those unforgettable feelings and help them take word form. Is it necessary? Is it helpful? Must we define all our feelings? What happens to the wordless ones? Do they impact us?

 

As a small child, I grew up in an Ozzie & Harriet family. My dad went off to work. My mom stayed home and nurtured my sister and me. Then, during World War II, my mom went to work at a bomb plant. My sister went to kindergarten, and I went to stay with my mom’s friend in town. Dad got a military deferment because of his family obligations. He entered into a business venture with his brother-in-law and spent long hours away from home. How did I feel about all that change? I don’t know. I never verbalized those feelings. Do they need words to be real?

 

It’s reassuring to realize that God hears the language of the heart. Before we learn to speak, He hears us. He understands our needs even better than a nurturing, attentive mother comprehends her infant’s cries. Before we know how to say what we’re feeling, God knows. In the depths of our souls, unspoken feelings are stored. Yes, they impact us. They are unforgotten by God as well. Knowing He helps our circumstances “work together for good, for those who believe in Him” gives me great comfort.

 

Remembering now those early days of change, I can see how Mom’s friend (I called her Aunt Artie) impacted my life for good. She took me regularly to the library. She encouraged my ability to read. Hers was a happy, safe haven. The unforgotten language of my heart feels her support and acceptance.

 

What unforgotten language lingers in your heart? My prayer is that you, too, have the reassurance of God’s understanding. May you feel comfort in the dormancy of wordless memories. Let the feeling lie in your heart – unforgotten – but working for good. Believe!

 

 

Jan Beekman

3-1-18

 

Category:

Bible Lessons, Faith, Love

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TOUCH

TOUCH

Touch my fingers,
Touch my nose,
Grab my ankles,
Touch my toes.
Touch my lips,
Kiss my cheek,
Touch my heartstrings,
Make me weak.
Touch my feelings,
Feel my heart,
Touch my words,
That’s a start.
Touch my meaning,
Know it’s me,
Touch my spirit,
Set me free!

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Category:

Love, Sharing

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The Secret of Success

In 1936, when my mother and father were newlyweds, my mom collected more than a dozen poems, cutting them out of the weekly newspaper in Newman, CA, the WestSide Index. Mom lived two states away from her family and friends, who were in northern Washington. Missing her own mother’s wisdom and daily advice, she posted selected articles on a piece of cardboard inside her kitchen cupboard door. Today that yellowing collection of wisdom, still on its original cardboard, is tacked inside my kitchen cupboard door. It’s a constant reminder of the power of words and the influence of a mother who valued the them.

Here is one of my favorites:

The Secret of Success (author unknown)

“What is the secret of success?” asked the Sphinx?
“Push the button,” said electricity.
“Never be led,” said the pencil.
“Take pains,” said the window.
“Be sharp in all your dealings,” said the knife.
“Always keep cool,” said the ice.
“Be up to date,” said the calendar.
“Make light of your troubles,” said the fire.
“Never lose your head,” said the match.
“Find a good thing and stick to it,” said the stamp.

Notice that each “secret” is linked to the attribute of the one speaking. Therein lies the real secret to success in my opinion. Find your natural talents, develop them, and use your gifts to build success. What is YOUR secret of success?

 

Category:

Love

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