Today I went to Counselling…(and I learnt about Singing)

Today I went to a counselling session at my ‘local’ counsellor in downtown Wellington. A lovely (and spunky) Christian lady, this was our second meeting together after what I felt to be a rocky first session. Today I was glad to find that we were exactly on the same page in regards to our values, Christian convictions (yes, she is a Christian counsellor), and her advice on wisdom, which was one of the greatest comforts to me during this time.

It’s amazing what one 50 minute session on a couch can do to the trajectory of one’s life.

It was purely life giving, and for this I praise God entirely for His provision and counsel in this session.

And what does this have to do with music?

Well today, I learnt a little more about wisdom. And in wisdom, that which I have been seeking for many years now (and continuing to fail at, but constantly praying for), there is apparently a catch: wisdom often requires restraint. Restraint requires a lack of full expression. A lack of full expression may cause a bottling over of harboured emotions that come back to bite, and then chew, and then eat and then completely destroy all the wise words and actions you ever mustered in the first place.

In other words, without an ability to pastorally care for your own restraint as you live out your life in wisdom, you inadvertently let the thief steal, kill and destroy (John 10:10).

But here’s the lightning bolt moment: what if, instead of sucking in those emotions and settling them bitterly into your soul, you find a constant and reliable outlet of expression, of which you can utterly pour your soul into, without harm to yourself or anyone else. And the bonus part is, it actually produces beautiful fruit? What if music, especially singing, which has proven to boost endorphins and provide self-confidence amongst a myriad of other things, is the answer to provide reprieve in our daily needs to be wise?

Is this another reason why Paul exhorts us to “encourage each other with psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs [and] sing and make music in your hearts to the Lord”? (Eph 5:19-20). Perhaps, from the very beginning, God has provided music to allow us to express the very deepest achings of our soul that even we cannot put into words, which have been tucked down in the crevices of our psyche, only to fester and poison and burn our inner being, and in singing and new songs and music and pure human expression, all that has been forgotten and hidden are brought to light and are offered as sacrifices of praise to our God?

What an amazing image, and what an astounding fact. And yet, what common sense.

So where to from here?

First, to do with music ministry and music in the church, a drafting thought is that the music of the church should never be restrained to genre or culturally specific types of expression – all expressions of music need to be brought out (or at least, allowed to be expressed) for the very sake of nurturing and building up in pastoral care the aching bones of our church members.

Second, music therapy. I shall say it again, and with excited conviction: music therapy! And specifically, once more, music therapy in singing.

 Get wisdom; get insight;
    do not forget, and do not turn away from the words of my mouth.
Do not forsake her, and she will keep you;
    love her, and she will guard you.
The beginning of wisdom is this: Get wisdom,
    and whatever you get, get insight.
Prize her highly, and she will  exalt you;
    she will honor you if you embrace her.
She will place on your head a graceful garland;
    she will bestow on you a beautiful crown.”

Proverbs 4:5-9 ESV

I leave you with the above verse and complimentary music piece, that for some reason I find strangely touching, and often comes to mind when contemplating the wisdom I pray for daily.

Innsbruck, ich muss dich lassen,
ich fahr dahin mein Straßen,
in fremde Land dahin;
mein Freud ist mir genommen,
die ich nicht weiß bekommen,
wo ich im Elend bin.

Groß Leid muss ich jetzt tragen,
das ich allein tu klagen
dem liebsten Buhlen mein;
ach Lieb, nun lass mich Armen
im Herzen dein erbarmen,
dass ich muss von dannen sein!

Mein Trost ob allen Weiben,
dein tu ich ewig bleiben,
stet' treu, der Ehren fromm;
nun muss dich Gott bewahren,
in aller Tugend sparen,
bis dass ich wieder komm!

Innsbruck, I must leave you;
I will go my way
to foreign land(s).
My joy has been taken away from me,
that I cannot achieve
while being abroad.

I must now bear great sorrow
that I can only share
with my dearest.
Oh love, hold poor me
(and) in your heart compassion
that I must part from you.

My consolation: above all other women,
I will forever be yours,
always faithful, in true honor.
And now, may God protect you,
keep you in perfect virtue,
until I shall return.