The Simple Music of Life
/
“As for me, I call to God, and the Lord saves me.” Psalm 55:16
Heaven continues to get sweeter and sweeter this year as another dear friend, Sharon, took the journey home. My connection with Sharon began with her family and then with her involvement in the Vesper Services at the facility where she lived. My connections were many, but our bond of friendship was in the deep and confidential conversations we shared over the years. Sharon trusted me with her heart and as a person she could process through what was going on in her life and in the life of her family.
Trust is the basis of all relationships. It is in this trust that we share deeply and create a bond that nothing can separate. Trust is knowing the person lives what they say and loves without condition or judgment. When you trust someone, you can be open and vulnerable. My friendship with Sharon had the foundation of trust.
Her life and legacy were built on trust. Sharon trusted Jesus and gave her heart and life to Jesus. Sharon loved Jesus and simply and quietly lived her faith through her love and actions. Sharon loved her family fiercely, and they trusted her to always be there for them and to love them no matter the circumstances. Sharon loved the simple things of life.
In Sharon’s Celebration of Life Service, music was central. Sharon had a love for music that she instilled in her family especially her son, Phil. Sharon had the desire for a music career but life took a different direction. Her desire was fulfilled through her son, Phil. I got to know Sharon as she played for the Vesper Services when I would assist the Chaplain. Music flowed through her fingers.
At her service, Michael sang “If I Sing” by Richard Muenz which moved my heart deeply. Phil said it expressed his relationship with his mom. I began to ponder some of the words of the song – “If I sing you are the music, if I love you taught me how. Every day your heart is beating in the man that I am now…. I never told you. It took time till I could see that if I sing you are the music and you’ll always sing in me. Yes, you’ll always live in me.”
For Sharon’s family, she was the foundation of music. She gave them the gift of music not just in notes on a page, but the music of love, the music of shared meals and delicious food, the music of laughter and joy, the music of Jesus, the music of enjoying the simple things of life. She was the music that helped them sing, that gave them a voice to become who God created them to be.
Jesus is the music of our lives. Jesus creates the rhythm of our lives. A rhythm is a strong, intentional movement that guides the flow and pace. It is the underlying pulse. It is a regular pattern that is natural and continuous like heartbeats. We can only sing if Jesus gives us the music which Jesus does in the Bible and through His Holy Spirit.
Sharon’s legacy of love for Jesus, others and the simple things of life come from Jesus being the music of her own life. Is Jesus the music of your life? It is not just listening to music or singing the words of songs, but allowing the rhythm of the music to become your natural pattern of life. It is allowing Jesus to guide your pace and flow of life. Everything you say and do, goes through the beat of Jesus.
We tend to complicate our faith and our lives with activities, worries, anxieties, an abundance of tasks and make our faith complicated with so many expectations. When we do this, we lose the music and gentle rhythm of salvation and grace. It’s simple – God loves you. God sent Jesus to die for your sins. You believe and accept and sing for Jesus. Simple. Listen to the music. Surrender control to Jesus and follow His rhythm of life.
It takes time to see that if you sing, it is because of those who leave a legacy of love. Their love will always sing and live in you.
It takes time to see that if you sing, it is because Jesus is the music. Allow Jesus to be the music – the rhythm of your life – and you will always sing, that is, live in his love and grace and glorify Him. It’s that simple.
Listen to the music.
Elaine J. Sturtz
Check out my other blogs and newspaper articles and books on my website.
