Dear Reader:

Quinn Caldwell (All I Really Want-Christmas devotions) shares insightful musings on the one single animal species (that lives on the ground) who can sing…us!

“Humans are also the only singing species with a precise and shared sense of rhythm, which is what allows us to sing together. Two birds might sing the same song, but they can’t coordinate it. They can sing next to each other…but not together.” 

Today Doodle and Harvey are picking me up for church because it is our special seasonal service filled with  readings from the Christmas Story accompanied by carols and the beautiful music of a wide and diverse arrangement of songs and instruments sung and played by our talented congregational members and others.

It is one of my favorite annual services…I look forward to it each year and was so happy when Doodle offered to pick me up and take me. It has been literally weeks since I have been able to attend church…between the stolen car and the restrictions on a serious foot wound and standing on it for extended periods of time…it has flown by.

I can’t think of a better service to return to church with…music that calms me and brings me peace, music that puts joy in my heart and makes me smile. It just isn’t Christmas without this service. Now all is right with the world again.

Caldwell explains in his Christmas devotional research why we humans all love the experience of hearing music together…quite interesting.

…”If a roomful of people sings at the same time, they start to breathe at the same time as well. And not only that, but studies have also shown that when people sing together, their hearts start beating together, too. And if we’re singing together and breathing together and our hearts are beating together, then it’s like we’re one body. 

We, as Christians, actually feel like we become the body of the One to whom we are singing. Singing together gives us courage and strength…we become a Body that does not back down. We are ready for the challenges ahead…with strength in unity.” 

When Jo Dufford came to pick me up a week ago to do some quick Christmas shopping…we somehow got into the discussion of thinking about the music we would like played or sung at our memorial services. After we both finished, we started laughing…we want the same thing….a song fest for a memorial service.

I just want some scriptures about joy read and recognition of the joyful life I have lead…and then bring on the songs…my favorite songs..I am so lucky to have (on both sides of the family) extremely musically talented members, as well as, friends. Let’s make a joyful noise!

So until tomorrow… If  singing together and breathing together and allowing our hearts to beat together will take place at a song fest of any kind… giving us strength and courage to face the future….then let’s have more of it!

“Today is my favorite day”  Winnie the Pooh

* I love the wreath on the dining wall mirror…because, not only does it catch my reflection here at Christmas…reaffirming my physical existence (can you find a tiny piece of my reflection in the title photo?) but, also, the lights from the Christmas tree….reflections of Christmases past and present…hopefully continued reflections for the future…the light of hope.