The other day, I realized I hadn’t written a “Music on the Race” post in a while. After a good long while of internal processing (because thinking just doesn’t cut it anymore), I figured out what was going on.
This month, we are living in a country that is very open to Christianity, but our team is in a region that is not. And so, to be respectful of our host and their continued ministry here, we don’t wear Christian-slogan T-shirts. We don’t talk about Jesus in public. Since we live on the top floor of the ministry, we have been asked not to sing and worship too loudly so we don’t disturb the neighbors or raise their suspicions.
This month, we are here to paint and teach and love people from a little farther away.
I, for one, love this. I love getting to see a result at the end of the day, I love working with kids, I love smiling at people for no reason.
But I forgot to notice, at least at first, how the lack of music was affecting me.
Music calms me down and fills me up and makes me hopeful and provides restoration.
Because I love music. I think I’ve loved it since I was a baby being held in my mom’s arms as she conducted a handbell choir. I’ve loved every minute of choir at my church, from belting my 4 year old heart out to “Jesus Loves Me” to joining the Sanctuary Choir.
Being told to be careful about worship made me jump to the opposite side of the spectrum, and come to find out: that’s not a place I really enjoy.
Two nights ago, we met at our hosts’ house for a Bible study. The Pastor asked us, before we started, to sing a few songs. (They always ask for a few songs!) Looking at my teammates’ faces as we sang, it clicked. Music is powerful stuff, and I’d been missing it for most of the past week.
So I don’t have a specific song to share with y’all today, but I want to encourage you to listen to something. Fill yourselves up with something good. Worship music, sermons, dancing music, those CDs of nature sounds – whatever sounds connect you with God, don’t cut them out of your life!
