How Can I Keep from Singing?

Let us come before [God] with thanksgiving and extol him with music and song. – Psalm 95:2 (NIV) 

Fifty or so years ago, my elementary school choir teacher told my parents that I had “potential” and that it would be a good idea for me to take voice lessons. That choir teacher, whose name is lost to time, was pretty much the last person to actively encourage me to sing. I mean, I like to sing along to the car radio. Singing is what first brought me back to church after a few-year hiatus as a young adult. And I do a pretty mean “Sweet Caroline” on karaoke night. But no one has been exactly clamoring to hear my voice. I figured singing out loud was to bring enjoyment to other people, and if other people didn’t enjoy it, it’s probably best to keep it quiet. 

This year, though, I screwed up my courage and for the first time began taking singing lessons. Every week, I look forward to forty-five minutes of warm-ups and then diving into one of the couple of songs we are working on—although it really feels more like play than work. I leave each lesson feeling stronger, happier, and more confident. 

It has begun to occur to me over this year that maybe singing is not for other people’s enjoyment after all. Maybe the reason all those psalms encouraged God’s people to sing was not because they all sounded amazing, but because singing makes those of us who do it more centered, whole and joyful. And maybe that’s how God wants Their children to be as much of the time as possible. 

Prayer
Holy One, we cannot keep from singing! Alleluia! Amen.

About the Author
Rev. Jennifer Garrison (formerly Brownell) is a writer, spiritual director and pastor living in the Pacific Northwest. Her published work most recently appeared in the book The Words of Her Mouth: Psalms for the Struggle, available from The Pilgrim Press.