12.15.2012

Messiah 2013

So many tragedies this week, even within the last few days.  The pants-wearing debacle. The elementary school shooting.  The 12-year-old boy from my neighborhood who died in a car accident, and his mom, who is still in critical condition.

I've seen happy things too.  My mom and I held a Christmas recital for all our piano students on Monday night.  Twelve kids with jitters turned into some really motivated students, after they saw what the others could do.
I tested the waters of community organizing, after weaseling my way onto a very closed pool project committee. (Go Like our Facebook page!)
I performed with a choir and orchestra composed of people from all walks of life - 6th grader to great-grandma, janitor to doctor - as we sang that inspired piece of music The Messiah.

It's difficult to describe what that music does to me, even though I've participated in the performance for five years now.  I can get to practice tired, dragging my feet, even crying inside, and I always come away uplifted and grateful (also hoarse, usually).  We sing Glory to God in the Highest and Behold, the Lamb of God that taketh away the sins of the World and His Name Shall be Called: Wonderful, Counselor, the Mighty God, the Everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace ... and somehow, my heart is healed.

Last night as we got to the now-cliche Hallelujah chorus, I started really thinking about these words I've been hearing my entire life.

Hallelujah!  
For the Lord God Omnipotent Reigneth.
The Kingdom of this world is become
The Kingdom of His Christ:
And He shall reign forever and ever,
King of kings! and Lord of lords!
Hallelujah!

My heart clenched within me and I thought about Jesus Christ, King of kings and Lord of lords.  I thought about Him returning to reign over this earth that He saved with love. This earth with wicked, wicked people who do unspeakable things to each other and to sweet, innocent little children.
I thought about His incomprehensible love, what it means to me in my life.  What it does for me.

And I was just glad that I was in the choir, that I could cry without anyone noticing, and sing as loud as my little voice could carry: Hallelujah! Hallelujah! for His matchless gift!

2 comments:

  1. I think I missed out on most of this pants thing out here. I did hear a little something about it and tried to look into it some, but I guess I missed most of the drama. From everything I read on both sides, I just took away for myself the idea that we just need to work on loving each other. Even when we don't have the exact same ideas or struggles. I was shocked to hear how people were treating each other.

    I love music, too. It is one of the greatest things out there. I miss singing parts of the Messiah from choir in high school. It's such amazingly powerful music.

    I also have wonderful memories of singing with your family around the piano at your house. I love that about your family.

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  2. Leia - yes. That's exactly what I took away from it. I don't know what is in anyone else's heart, so I don't have the right the judge them.
    I was just saddened by the vitriolic comments from people who turned it into something more than it should have been.

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