Make My Life a Song

Today was one of those crazily amazing days that you look back on and smile at. This morning was the first time since the remodel job started that we have had the orchestra back. I had almost forgotten how amazing it is to worship along with a fantastic orchestra of people who have a burning desire to praise the Lord by making music. After church today, my Girls Choir performed at a nursing home in Lincoln. This nursing home happened to be an Alzheimer's Care Facility. (I hope to work at a place like this once I obtain my nursing assistant degree.)

We sang our first three songs, two of them were very classical Latin pieces, and the third was a more modern version of the hymn O Worship the King. Then we sang a couple of hymns with the patients. There were only three hymn books to share amongst 39 of us girls, so it was a little difficult, especially since the patients chose hymns that are less common in the "musically advanced" society that we live in. Half way through "Victory in Jesus", my director turned around and looked me straight in the eye. I thought I was going to get the "Stop making up your own harmony" glare, but instead she said, "Good job rockin' the tenor part!" in the middle of the chorus. It was quite entertaining actually.

After the hymns, a man from our church preached a rather short sermon, and then it was time for us to sing again. Our next song was What a Savior by Laura Story. This is the song that I have a solo in. Since there were no mics, Teresa made me stand up front next to where she was conducting. It's so fun to sing in front of all of these elderly people because as you look around the room and make eye contact and exaggerated facial expression, they react back. Sometimes it's just a simple nod or a half smile, but other times it's tears. Two elderly people cried during my solo, one man sitting in the front, and a lady sitting a row behind him. It was really touching to see how seriously they take worshiping. Our last song was Make My Life a Song. I absolutely love this song. The title in and of its self is enough explanation to the reason we worship. I like to think of this song almost as a prayer or a plea to the Lord. We spent one entire rehearsal discussing the meaning of these lyrics in the way we praise and worship the Lord.

"You sang to me when first I breathed the holy breath of life; You sang to me as faith took hold and grew within my soul; You sing to me at every turn  and in each new beginning; I hear your voice in the stillness of my heart. Make my life a song, Creator of the music of the spheres. Make my life a song, O Lord of sound and silence of joy and tears. A song of praise, a hymn of faith, an anthem of Your love; Make my life a song. I give to You my hopes and dreams, the ventures of my life; I give to You the service that I offer in Your Name; I live for You my future to unfold as You will choose; I pray that I may walk beside You all my days. Make my life a song, Creator of the music of the spheres. Make my life a song, O Lord of sound and silence of joy and tears. A song of praise, a hymn of faith, an anthem of Your love; Make my life a song."

After the last song, we talked with the patients for a little while. I love talking to elderly people. They are so genuine and gentle. Because they are Alzheimer's patients, some of them couldn't remember certain things. For instance, at least 3 of the ladies that I talked to thought I was their granddaughter, one man kept asking me when I was going to move out and get a job, and a couple of them thought I was their nurse. In the back corner, one of the patients was sitting alone, so I walked up to her, grabbed her hand and thanked her for coming to listen to us. She told all about how she loved listening to children's voices. It turns out she used to go to our church. She looked at me and said, "You were the girl with the solo, weren't you?" I smiled and said, "Yes ma'am." Her face lit up and she said, "I know a good singer when I see one, and you listen to me Missy. You keep singing." Then her nurse came and wheeled her away. I love little old ladies.

After that, Kara and I had about 3 hours to kill before we had to be back at church for Girls of Grace, so we decided we were going to just drive around Lincoln. We went to the mall, and I found this pretty spiffy looking tie that instantly made me think of Micah and Byron. It was purple and it had a piano on it, and it said it said "Chicks dig piano players". I should force Rudy to learn the piano, just so I can buy him that tie, and he can wear it. After the mall trip, Kara and I went to a coffee shop to drink some high sugar/caffeine contented drinks and to creep on people. Stalking people in a coffee shop is actually quite fun.

Later, during music class at Girls of Grace, we were teaching the kids how to read music, specifically, flats. We started with the most common ones: Bb, Eb, and Ab. Honestly, I think it went in one ear and straight out the other. Sometimes I wonder how much of this stuff we are teaching them actually stays planted in their brains. The good thing is, I didn't cry tonight! The simple things that these little girls do and say are always a little convicting. Sometimes I think that the roles are reversed, and rather than me making an impact in their lives, they are making an impact on mine. I need to strive to make a life a song as well as pursue my walk by faith.