This quote is attributed to Martin Luther.
I thank dear Becky Rische for suggesting we share our stories of unexpected “God bumps,” those times we experience the body’s response to God’s unmistakable presence, and sometimes call “goose bumps.”
Lately, I’m surprised to find that God has made His presence felt through music. What an odd and unexpected statement from someone who can neither carry a tune nor play an instrument (unless you count my three years as a bugler in high school)!
I am sure neuroscientists and music scholars have researched the power of the connection between humans and music. I have not read such studies. To me, music is simply the work of the Holy Spirit, a belief recently reinforced by Ernie Chalfont’s “good-old-fashioned-wake” hosted by Sharon French and family.
Being a part of the celebration of Ernie’s life—a life so closely connected to music–was a source of both joy and inspiration. Pastor Steve Youngdahl commented about our long spiritual connection to music dating back to the Psalms, and then we recited Psalm 150:
Praise him with the blast of the ram’s horn; praise him with lyre and harp.
Praise him with timbrel and dance; praise him with strings and pipe.
Praise him with resounding cymbals; praise him with loud-clanging cymbals
Let everything that has breath; praise the Lord. Hallelujah!
Later, all of us enthusiastically joined together singing “I’ll Fly Away” accompanied by John Urban and Pastor Drew.
What a beautiful, collective moment it was, especially since “I’ll Fly Away” carries a special meaning for our community. None of us can forget the Sunday that Mike Huggins described how prisoners sing it at the end of each Kairos weekend. In the usual, open-to-new-things nature of Spirit in the Hills, we answered Mike’s call to sing “I’ll Fly Away” just like the prisoners–with arms flapping!
Music continued to tug at my heart that evening. I remembered that Ernie had played the piano at a small memory gathering led by Pastor Liz Hanley at Lakeway Brookdale for my bird-loving father. Although Ernie was actually a contemporary of many of the attendees, I will never forget how she rocked out on the piano as Sharon sang “His Eye is on the Sparrow.”
What a beautiful mother-daughter gift of music and a memory for me! I have photos and videos of the Chalfont celebration on my phone. I especially love replaying “I’ll Fly Away” which you can view by clicking on the photo below.
It teaches me again and again that singing is not only a way for me to worship God, but it is also God’s gift to me. It is a gift that connects me with all the saints from the past AND those who surround me today–my own family, my church family, and my global family.
I am grateful for music and the God bumps I experienced at Ernie’s celebration. I also thank God for all the composers, pastors, musicians, choir directors, and singers who support the faith journey of this musically challenged pilgrim-bugler!
“Since Christ is Lord of heaven and earth, how can I keep from singing?”
—By Beverly Rosson