Singing Harmony, Missing the Melody

Parent’s Corner- March 29, 2020

“Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.”  Colossians 3:16 ESV

Last Sunday morning I went for a walk.  It had been a long couple of days. . . welcoming my college freshman home for the rest of the semester, negotiating computer use and space schedules for my two high schoolers, and moving my husband into the laundry room which will serve as his “office” for the duration of our “Shelter at Home” season.  Thoughts kept swirling through my head and distracting my mind, so I knew I needed to refocus before our “corporate gathering” online.

As I was walking, I listened to my favorite Spotify playlist, “Sang on Sunday”.  I found myself singing out loud as I walked, the words serving as a balm to my heart and truly ministering to my soul.  I stopped at one point and laughed. . . I didn’t care if other people heard me or not, but I realized that if they weren’t accustomed to the songs, they might be confused and not recognize some of the commonly known choruses.  I was singing the alto part.  Those are the parts I know, those are the parts my mind goes to first, and if I’m being completely honest, for some songs, I’m not sure I even know the melody!  I only know the harmony.  I needed the melody.  I needed the bass line.  I needed the other parts to add to mine to make it complete.

I thought ahead and dreamed wistfully of the time when our body could be back together.  I miss everyone so much!  Then it hit me. . . we will be back together at some point, however many days, weeks, months from now. . . and I can’t wait for that reunion.  But there is another reunion that we should always be looking forward to. . . the day when we will be with Jesus in Heaven, singing His praises with all believers from all time!  Are we anticipating that reunion as much as we are looking forward to being with our church body here and now? 

When I was in college, I was in a women’s chorus.  After graduation, we toured several countries in central Europe for two and a half weeks.  We had the privilege of singing with many congregations, often in English while they sang the same language in their native tongue.  I still have chills when I remember the words and music filling the room, going up in praise to the Lord, in different languages, from different countries, but all to Him. 

While we wait for the time when we can be together with our church body, may the Lord grant us the grace and strength we need to wait, anticipating the happy day when we can worship together again.

While we wait for the time when we can be together with all believers in Heaven, may the Lord grant us the grace and strength we need to wait, anticipating the glorious eternity when we can worship together forever.

This is the time when I would normally include the passages and goals for our Sunday school lessons.  You can find those links in Grace Weekly or on our Website this week.  Be sure to visit the links for the songs that we usually sing in Sunday school!  You might be singing by yourself or with your siblings for now, but we will be singing together again very soon, and then for eternity!