Another country heard from

I haven't posted in in this blog for quite a while, but I was recently thinking about something that really only fits here.

I went to a small, church-related liberal arts college. Although I was a music education student, most of my classmates were church music students. Part of the church music curriculum was a class called Church Music Administration, for which one requirement was an extended essay to be entitled something like "My Philosophy of Church Music." I will resist the sort of judgment about my 21-year old, naive self, and what he might have written at the time. That would be too easy, and would likely amuse no one. However, I have recently started thinking about what I might write if I were given such an assignment now.

Henry Pfeiffer Chapel at
Pfeiffer College

First I must start with the value of music in our society. We live in a task-based society. At every level of education, professional achievement, and even recreation, very often people are evaluated--and evaluate themselves--on accomplishment rather than wisdom or experience. I do not wish to suggest this is bad, or that there are no cases where this is appropriate, but merely that this should be part of a spectrum. 

It is my belief that a person who is well rounded in experience and education might live a fuller, richer life. It is true that there have always been people who hadn't the time to think of such things because actually providing food and shelter for themselves and their families was so difficult. I know that this situation still exists in our society. What I find objectionable is that this sense of desperation pervades all levels of our society now. At every professional, education, and socio-economic level there seems to be a visceral need to accomplish ever more, gain ever more, amass ever more; rather than to enjoy life, to enjoy relationships, to enjoy the world, to enjoy beauty. Even in recreation and holiday, there is often a sense of failure if every moment is not filled with excitement or accomplishment, if one does not return from a vacation needing another vacation. To some, there is shame in resting.

I intend to write about the need for beauty in our lives, and because it is my field of specialty, beauty in music.  I shall start with a story I have shared before. I had a spiritual counseling session many years ago at a retreat, and I of course began with lots of intellect-based blather--always my natural defense when there is a fear I might actually feel something. But when we began talking about music, the fellow I was working with said I changed completely. My face, my tone of voice, my manner--everything. He told me of the St. Francis quote, "God, you are beauty." In effect, this spiritual counselor gave me permission to acknowledge beauty as my connection to the Divine. I would like to think everyone has a passion that creates that sort of change in visage, voice, and demeanor. I hope that passion is about beauty. 

I think it would be difficult to find someone who does not enjoy music--although such people exist--but I think it would be very easy to find people who know little outside the musics they are familiar with. And there are many who are suspicious of what they don't know. I think it is the job of any serious musician to offer beauty, solace, balm, if you will, in the form of music the audience knows, but also to offer new experience in exposure to music the audience doesn't yet know. I think this is true of the performing musician in the concert hall and the church musician in the choir loft. 

Another view of the
Henry Pfeiffer Chapel,
home of the Pfeiffer College
music programs

To come back to my original intent, which is to elaborate on my own vision of church music, I will repeat that music is a way to connect to the Divine. Everyone experiences music in his or her own way, whether it is inspiration because of the beauty of what one is hearing, or perhaps a tear because of memories a particular piece of music brings to mind, or excitement over hearing something totally new. The experience will be different each time. 

The experience of making music also builds community. A sense of belonging, of being able to contribute in some way. A feeling of family. To this day, my closest friends are those with whom I made music many years ago. There is a great beauty in the shared intent of a choir singing music intended to praise our God. There is also the value of shared experience in learning new music, in overcoming challenges, in expanding skills.

As a music education student, I gave a tremendous amount of attention to the question of using what we call sacred music in public schools, and I concluded that understanding the culture and worldview that influenced the composer is of great value. In the public schools, learning about other times and other cultures alongside the experience of beautiful music is a very worthy goal. In church music, it is the same.  

In summary, I approach church music from many different angles--as a practicing musician of skill and taste, of course, but also as an educator, a historian, a social scientist. I am not a theologian, but I will discuss for hours what we think "Et incarnatus est" meant to Bach and Mozart and Stravinsky and Bill & Gloria Gaither. As a church musician it would not be my job to preach the Word. It would be my job to show people new and exciting ways to understand it.

Fasten Your Seatbelts (or David Offends Everyone)

I have recently noticed a parallel upon which I must comment.  The phenomenon is not new, but my noticing it is. It has to do with good intentions--and we know it is said the road to Hell is paved with good intentions.

I was recently reminded why it is never, ever a good idea to read the comments to a YouTube video.  I was watching a post by a respected medical professional--and I have no issue with him on this matter--but part of the conversation was about obesity. Some might recall that I have a long history with this particular issue. Fortunately, I did not notice any comments of the "Ewww!  Fat people don't deserve to live!" sort.  Although I'm sure there were some.  What concerned me more was what seemed to be a majority view that everyone in a fat person's life has a duty to advise that person that s/he is fat. After all, this viewpoint reasoned, it is a loving thing to do to point out that a person is GOING TO DIE if s/he does not make radical changes RIGHT NOW. Further, any suggestion of respect or concern for the fat person as s/he is today is tantamount to encouraging that person to continue in the ways that are clearly unacceptable.  This viewpoint does not seem to understand fat people who do not continually hang their heads in shame, beating their breasts and lamenting, "Woe is me!"  I do not wish to suggest that every commenter made this suggestion.  Some were more harsh, some less. But the presiding sentiment, in degrees mild to wild, was that it was the duty of everyone in the world to tell a fat person that s/he is fortunate to have any social life at all and as a result should listen gratefully to any and all unsolicited "advice".

Perhaps this is a new concept to some readers, but allow me to suggest that fat people deserve respect always. Always. Further, whatever you have observed, be it a weight gain or other body change, it will not have escaped the notice of the person you're concerned about. If you respect a woman's right to control her own body--and if you don't, I don't want to know you--you must respect a fat person's right to at least get through the day without your expressions of "concern".  Even if you are a medical professional, you will not be the first person to advise a fat person that s/he is fat. I don't care who you are--there is NOTHING magical about your words that will cause a lightbulb moment for a fat person. If YOU think YOU can make the fat person see the light, then the issue is with YOU, not him/her.

(Yes, I know s/he and him/her is awkward, but using "they" as a singular pronoun is like fingernails on a chalkboard to me.)

Moving right along. I'm a really, really cynical person (no surprise to most), but I somehow find myself surrounded by people of great faith. I like that. But I was in an online chat recently where someone received a suggestion to approach people in a social situation with a question that could be summarized as, "Does your belief system mirror mine?" If the victim does not respond positively, the suggestion was to "Tell him/her about Jesus."  In other words, to try to convince the target to adopt a belief system that mirrors the questioner's.  This is a cynical summary, yes, but I have yet to see any evidence that I am wrong. This all supports the suggestion I've heard from others that those who want to "tell people about Jesus" are more concerned about collecting converted souls--whatever that means--like green stamps than about the actual welfare of those individuals they attack with their proselytizing ways.

Another reality check. In today's day and age--in today's America at least--there is no one who has not heard of Jesus. People might be searching for meaning in their own lives--often are--but it is extremely condescending and self-absorbed to think that what works for you is the answer for everyone. Further, it is intrusive and cruel to force someone to listen to your own version of Christianity (I won't even get into how theologically sound it might be!) when that person doesn't want it. If YOU think YOU can save the person you think is damned, then the issue is with YOU, not him/her.

See where I'm headed here?  In both situations one person thinks s/he can offer life-changing wisdom to another, and further, is justified in doing so without even ascertaining whether such action is welcome. Um, no.  This is wrong on so many levels. The amount of presumption, conceit, condescension, and self absorption in both situations is astounding. 

Although I can't prescribe a solution, I can describe a far less offensive way of approaching these topics and others. 12-step programs use the suggestion of attraction rather than promotion; sharing experience, strength, and hope, rather than advice. In other words, a gentle (I SAID GENTLE, DAMMIT!!!!!!) suggestion of what works for you and why, without the suggestion that you are trying to solve what you see as a problem in the victim you are pursuing. 

Yes, I said victim again. That is because there is still every possibility the victim will feel like you are attacking him/her. Because you are. You are saying, "There is something wrong with you, and I can fix it." Please don't deny it.  That is exactly what you are doing.

I don't for a minute think that anyone who is guilty of the offenses I describe will recognize him/herself in my words.  I expect there are people who agree, people who think I'm talking about others, and people who have no clue what I'm talking about. I'm accustomed to that. (I have written about grammar in the past, after all.) Still, I felt the need to get this out of my system. Thank you for listening, and keep coming back. It works if you work it.

• Does it need to be said?
• Does it need to be said now?
• Does it need to be said by me?