"How Lovely..."

"I will sing to the LORD as long as I live; I will sing praise to my God while I have being."

(Psalm 104:33)

I didn't start singing in a choir as an adult until Emily was born (1997-98 time frame). We were living in Hilo. Ezra was 3 years old. Jody had sung in choirs since college, and loved it! I was apprehensive... as I didn't read music well, yet enjoyed singing in the shower! We decided to join the choir at Hilo UMC (where I was serving as pastor)... partly as a chance to take a break from our children for a few hours one night a week.

Our choir director, Arnold Peneueta, was amazing! I really learned a lot under his leadership. I still struggled a bit on just about every piece. The usual cycle of learning a new song went like this for me: a) Rehearsal #1 of a new piece: I'd be mostly lost, frustrated, and think that I really need to quit the choir, b) Rehearsals #2 & #3: I begin to get my part down, and I decide not to quit. c) Rehearsals 4+: I actually start to enjoy singing my part, and feel like I'm actually contributing to the choir, and suddenly glad I didn't quit. (Seriously, every piece was like that for me!)

Of all the songs we sang at Hilo UMC, my absolutely favorite one as a rendition of the song, "How Lovely Is Thy Dwelling Place". In fact, I loved it so much, the choir sang it on my last Sunday at Hilo UMC. Then I brought it to Aiea UMC (where I served for 15 years as pastor), and we probably sang it 7x or more in our choir there! Every time I sing it, I'm filled with such JOY and uplifting! Periodically, my soul remembers that song, and I'm transported to an amazing place as I re-sing it in my heart (sometimes out loud!).

I think that's probably close to the feeling that the psalmist had when s/he wrote Psalm 104. "I will sing to the LORD as long as I live. I will sing praise to my God while I have being." Yes! Yes! YES!!!

Thank you God, for music... for joy... for life... for blessing... and or the opportunity to sing praises to you! AMEN.