Longing for heaven: My father used to say “ if you listen properly to music you will get what it means.” He was an intensely musical man. I am not. As the least musical member of the family it rarely worked for me as I was growing up. (Don’t blame him – I am adopted).
But it worked for me this week. In the $150m renovated Sydney Opera House Concert Hall (which sounds stunning,) Obadiah heard Simone Young conduct Brahms’ German Requiem. The joy and hope of the fourth movement lifted my spirit.
How lovely are your dwellings
Lord of Sabaoth!
My soul longs and faints
for the courts of the Lord.
My body and soul rejoice
In the living God.
Blessed are they that in your house,
do dwell,
they praise you evermore.
(from Psalm 84)
The thing is, it was sung in German, but it was clear to me what was being song. A glance at the first line in English is all the hint I had, but it was enough. The message about longing for heaven came across.
In Babylon, the children of Israel asked “how can we sing the songs of Zion in a strange land?” In our post-modern world, we Christians face a different musical dilemma, often hearing our songs sung by others. I don’t know if members of the Sydney Symphony, the Philharmonia Choir or even Simone Young experienced praising God under the sails of the Opera house that afternoon. But Obadiah did. And that was wonder enough.
Footnote: “There were parts of that music that was radiant,” my companion said as we walked under the collonade to the station. Which made Obadiah think of he who “is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being.”
Diagnosing the body: Baptist minister Karl Faase has been touring to a lot of churches to video his Faith Runs Seep series and now to promote it. So he has a good handle on how we are doing: “The Australian church, after two tough years, needs fresh vision and an infusion of faith and confidence. Let’s find ways to rebuild confidence, release vision & build an expectant heart across the church.”
Quote of the week: “Through your Holy Spirit, O lord, let me touch as many lives as possible for youthis dayby the words I speak, the prayer I breathe, or the life I live. aman.” Plaque in the prayer chapel in St. Paul’s Cathedral, Melbourne – a quote from the founder of the Mothers Union, Mary Sumner.