Sunday, October 14, 2012

Now the Silence

Now the Silence
Mark 1
Psalm 46:10
            There are certain hymns which move me.  It’s usually the combination of a soul-stirring text and a magnificent melody that reaches a place inside me, leaves me awe-struck and touches my emotions.  Now the Silence by Jaruslav J. Vajda, with music by Carl F. Shalk is one of these.  I can’t hear it without having a visceral reaction.  My wife knows this, and will frequently play it during Communion.  No one else in the congregation (to my knowledge) knows this hymn well enough to have a similar reaction, so I know she is playing it for me.
            The words of the title are significant.  A band conductor who influenced me greatly used to say (quite rightly), “Music begins and ends with silence.”  He said it to get our attention before we began playing, but even more to focus our attention on the music we were about to play. 
Music begins and ends with silence.  There is that moment of anticipation before the musicians begin to sing or play where everything is at rest.  Everyone is attentive to what is about to happen.  Likewise, when the music stops, there is a moment, however brief, before the audience reacts to what they have just heard.  There are times when the music is so moving that this moment, for me, is extended.  I cannot applaud.  I cannot react in any other way but silence. 
We’re not silent enough often enough or long enough.  The psalmist urges us to be still in order to know God—to experience God, to feel God moving in our lives.  If we are not silent, how can we hear God’s voice?  Elijah learned on the mountain how to find God in the silence.  God was not in the power of the earthquake or the storm, but in the still, small voice.  If Elijah had not learned to be silent, he would have missed that voice.
Now!  Such a short word, but one packed with meaning.  We want what we want when we want it.  We never lose that childish desire to have our needs—our wants—met now!  We don’t like waiting.  The faster computers move the more impatient we become.  Now!  Let it happen now! 
There is also a good side to now.  There are times when, in silent reverence, we come to God asking for release, for comfort, for healing, for blessing, and we know we need God’s touch right then.  Is it wrong to ask for God to touch us now?  Will God make us wait?
Now the Silence!  Let the words wash over you now.  In silence.
Now the silence Now the peace
Now the empty hands uplifted
Now the kneeling Now the plea
Now the Father’s arms in welcome
Now the hearing Now the power
Now the vessel brimmed for pouring
Now the body Now the Blood
Now the joyful celebration
Now the wedding Now the songs
Now the heart forgiven leaping
Now the Spirit’s visitation
Now the Son’s epiphany
Now the Father’s blessing
Now
Now
Now

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