Dear Friends:
Today, I offer a brief story and a poem.
During the pandemic, when we were all shut up and shut down, for some reason I wasn’t even aware of, I stopped singing. Times I would have normally belted out a hymn (in church, in the car, in the shower) for some obvious reasons stopped. I would attend church online but I wasn’t pastoring at the time and it felt silly to sing alone in the room. I got into listening mode which wasn’t all bad, but now I find myself training my voice and lungs again. I am singing a lot lower.
There is something to singing. Even if you don’t have the greatest pitch or the knowledge of reading music, there is something that happens that is good for our brain and our heart when we sing. I was reading recently how many good hormones singing produces, no lie. They study this.
My point in all of this is to remind us all of the importance of singing, especially now. Sing the songs of childhood, belt out those rock and roll songs you learned as a teen, sing the love song, sing the hymn, sing it out and sing it long. It will grow your spirit, your mind and your heart.
I have a Mary Oliver Poem for you that talks about this too. Blessings and prayers!
Your Pastor,
Joanne
A poem by Mary Oliver, entitled
“I Worried”