Making Music

“Let them make music to Him with tambourines and lyres,
because the LORD takes pleasure in His people.”
Psalm 149:4

Growing up in a pastor’s family, my sisters and I experienced LOTS of different church
music. As the Psalmist expresses, the music of worship is something that the Lord
enjoys from His people. A few memorable moments come to mind:

● I’d sit next to my mom on her piano bench while she practiced hymns in
preparation for the Sunday service. (She’d let me add MY little plunking
attempts to play along with her. Of course, what I was playing was COMPLETELY
different from what she was practicing. But I liked it anyway.)

● Our family was exposed to many churches and their unique musical styles…and
musicians.

● We visited a tiny church one Sunday when my dad had the day “off” and wasn’t
preaching at ours. One such memorable occasion, our family of 5 filled one
bench, right in front of the church’s old upright piano. There were only a few
other people in the whole place. The woman who was seated at the piano got up,
faced all of us and said, “Y’all pray for me now, ‘cuz I don’t know how to play the
piano. But we’re gonna worship God together anyways!” She then sat down on
the piano bench and proceeded to bang on all of the keys as loudly as possible.
There was no tune. She began playing “runs” (swiping all the keys from high to
low) like I’d never heard before nor since, at full volume. My mother very subtly
leaned over and “mouthed”, “Don’t laugh! Nobody laugh!….pass it on.” I
obediently passed the message down the row to my sisters. The building was
vibrating, and nobody was able to find the tune, including the piano lady. It was
our only visit to that church. But one of our most memorable church
experiences. . . ever.

● As Pastor’s Kids (P.K.’s for short), one sister and I were often asked to sing at
church. . . especially when visiting churches where our dad had been asked to
preach. We would get very nervous, but Mom encouraged and coached us,
playing the piano for us as we sang together in front of the people. I was the
shyest one… Nervousness sometimes found its outlet by vomiting . . . first one,
then the other. We were a little tag team.

● At one large church where our family had often visited, my sister and I were so
afraid that we’d be asked to sing, that we threw up in the foyer. In unison. The next time we attended that church, two ushers recognized us, quickly disappeared, and returned with a bucket and mop. Just in case . . .

Over time, we became more comfortable with singing in front of people, and
without the drama. We even began to enjoy it, and were eventually grateful for
the opportunities to sing. We weren’t singing for the praise of people . . . We
were singing to God, our Audience of One, and experienced His Presence in the
midst of musical worship. God was not looking for perfection, and we came to
welcome the experience of sensing His Spirit coming near. . . through the music
of worship.