Like so many of us, I am pretty darn busy, so my time is precious. Also, I really dislike “wasting” time, to the point that, even when watching television, I feel the need to keep myself busy with sewing, sorting through mail, or something else. Multi-tasking is always my goal. Recently, I realized that this self-imposed attitude, funny enough, has greatly impacted my music consumption. As such, I have to admit that I don’t have a clue about any popular music, or musicians… unless their work is featured in Catholic liturgy, that is! While it’s a bit embarrassing to admit to this gap in knowledge, I have to say that “church” music has served me well!
In times of struggle, the lyrics, “No storm can shake my inmost calm / while to that Rock I’m clinging. / Since love is Lord of heaven and earth, / how can I keep from singing?” come right to mind. (“My Life Flows On,” Text and music by, Robert Lowry, 1826-1899).
When I am feeling empowered in my mission as a Christian, or if I want some “go juice” to empower me, I hum to the tune, “Voice of Christ” by Timothy R. Smith, especially the lines, “We the hands, we the eyes, we the voice of Christ. / O faithful God, we entrust our treasure to your heart.” Echoing the words of St. Teresa of Avila, “Christ has no body now on earth but yours, no hands but yours, no feet but yours,” I sense a call of duty every time I hear them.
In the same vein, the song, “The Summons,” by David Peacock, Graham Maule, and John L. Bell, is a huge favorite of mine. While, also, talking about our call to bring Christ’s presence into our world today, it also talks about the struggle of doing so. Lines like, “Will you risk the hostile stare / Should your life attract or scare? / Will you let me answer prayer / In you and you in me?” are affirming by allowing us to recognize that Christ is with us through it all.
In completely different circumstances, on any happy day, but most especially when I was loving my role as a mother and just enjoying being with my daughters as infants, I would sing the 1964 tune “Today,” by Randy Sparks to them as a lullaby: “Today while the blossoms still cling to the vine, / I’ll taste your strawberries, I’ll drink your sweet wine. / A million tomorrows shall all pass away, ‘ere I forget all the joy that is mine, today.” I smile just thinking of it.
I’m pretty sure that my choices really show my age, but I don’t care! I am incredibly blessed to say that I have carried these tunes with me through life. In good times, and in bad, they have been a comfort and a celebration. While just a few of my favorites, I bet you have your own list as well! I encourage you to dive into an internet search of lyrics. Often, you’ll even find recordings of them being performed, complete with the lyrics, so you can sing along. I can’t think of a better use of time. After all, as St. Augustine, who must have been a multi-tasker himself, once said, “He who sings prays twice!”
