Breathing-song

They say, when you chant or sing hymns, you pray twice.
Could that be why is it so much fun? 

Last week, while leading the seminary's chanted Evening Prayer, "Evensong,"  I found myself belting out the "O Gracious Light" and getting in the groove. 

I felt invigorated by the rhythmic breathing required to chant according to these so-called "simplified" tones.  They aren't really simple - in fact, they require quite a bit of attention.  So, while chanting, I squint to read the tiny notes in sharp and flat, I sense encouragement from master-chanter-David L., and I am buoyed by corrective adjustments from soprano-guide-Cameron S.

I notice my breath, I notice the tones, I smell the scent of incense, I notice the cloud floating up to the ceiling, I see the icon on the altar, I feel the presence of fellow pray-ers.

This is not about me - it's about us all, gathered, attempting to sing together and carry the tunes.  It's about worshiping God whose tones know all the harmonies and hold them together.


What songs are you breathing today?

Psalm 141.2:  Let my prayer be counted as incense before you, and the lifting up of my hands as an evening sacrifice.

Sounds

Sunday afternoon walk. I listen.

Wind over my ears.
Leaves cross the pavement.
River rushes below in the gorge.
Geese fly over head, honking.
A squirrel rushes up a tree and jumps branches.
Creature moves in the brush.
The fountain at the community pool across the way is flowing water. Leaves rustle in the trees.
Birds chirping in choir fashion.
A car whooshes by.
The tires peel off the pavement.
My footsteps crunch through the small gravel path on this bend.
An apartment's wind chime is singing.
The freeway moans in the distance.
A train alerts motorists.
Trees creek as they bend and bow.
I breathe.

Awaken my ears, O Lord, how you speak in creation. Awaken in me your voice.

What do you hear, in this moment?

What a wildly wonderful world, God!
You made it all, with Wisdom at your side,
made earth overflow with your wonderful creations.
Oh, look—the deep, wide sea,
brimming with fish past counting,
sardines and sharks and salmon.
Ships plow those waters,
and Leviathan, your pet dragon, romps in them.
All the creatures look expectantly to you
to give them their meals on time.
You come, and they gather around;
you open your hand and they eat from it.
If you turned your back,
they'd die in a minute—
Take back your Spirit and they die,
revert to original mud;
Send out your Spirit and they spring to life—
the whole countryside in bloom and blossom.

Psalm 104:24 (The Message)