The Gift of Music

Friday night eight students shared their music at the Clare Bridge Nursing Home in Eagan.  Aidan, Lena, Cassy, Solomon, Nehemiah, Mary, Calvin, and Sami played for Sami's grandfather and the rest of the residents.

Things were restless when we got there, getting 36 memory care residents into the foyer with chairs and wheelchairs and walkers is no small feat.

As soon as the music started a hush came over everyone.  They were all there.  Listening.  Sometimes singing along in quiet voices. Attentive and responsive. Appreciative. Focused. One hour of peace.

Music touches a very deep part of the brain.

When Ralph Harrel was in the hospital and suffering pain, Doris tells the story of the nurse bringing up a handful of CDs for him.  She tells how humming the bass line to the middle movement of Beethoven's Pathetique sonata soothed him when no pain medicine could.  Peace.

I think of my dad and his fear and confusion after his cancer induced stroke.  He struggled to form complete sentences, but easily sang bass through the whole LBW hymnal with me.  A morning of peace.

When I was so nervous to perform my graduate piano recital, my friend Ginny wrote me a note.  She died, but the note is glued in the front of my Bible and it says: Congratulations, Sara--Tonight the Lord will Bless you as you bless Him with the gifts He has given you.  Love, Ginny.

Music can raise us up from pain, confusion, and fear.  It isn't about us and our fragile egos--music is a gift.  It is a gift from God that we are meant to share--from Mary and Calvin's Jingle Bell duet at the nursing home to Easter Church's Christmas choral service with handbells, choir and orchestra.

Thank you Lord for the gift of music.  Help us to share it in meaningful and beautiful ways.