MEDICINE FOR HEART AND SOUL

My column in Mindanao Daily News

OPINION

By KLAUS DÖRING

 September 21, 2021

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In Pandemic times , music helps me to overcome many daily hurdles. I learned from a psychological  friend that music, because of its deep connections with the brain, is intrinsically meaningful to humanity as a race. We thrive off it. It drives our actions and emotions, and its influence on our brains creates a sense of unity with music that few other art forms can provide.

 

We are beginning to understand our own love of music not only as a cognitive reflex, but as a true art form. Because of being too busy in the past, I neglected this special love. And the relation between religion and music too. 

 

The relationship between religion and music can be coined as the “spirit” of the “sound.” Both provide a means of transcending human existence.

 

Music has the ability to deepen the meaning of words that accompany it, both in a religious context or even on your local pop radio station you listen to on the way to work. As described by St. Augustine in Weiss and Taruskin’s Music of the Western World, St. Augustine reflects on his baptism, “The tears flowed from me when I heard your hymns and canticles, for the sweet singing of your church moved me deeply…The music surged in my ears, truth seeped into my heart, and my feelings of devotion overflowed…

 

Yes, music has a way of filling in the gaps in thought, feeling, and emotion that words cannot do justice, which can be incredibly powerful when accompanied by a spiritual belief. Using music for religious reasons also gave early humans the ability to experience and explore the tantalizing effects of music without committing a sin. In the present day, music is used much more widely and for purposes other than worship, which has allowed religious music to grow and expand into many types of praise that have a wider impact on many people. Music is a nearly universal part of religion because it appeals to and heightens human senses in a pleasurable way which, in turn, allows humans to praise through a medium that makes worship more enjoyable.

 

A life without music? I wouldn't survive!

SONGS FROM THE HEART

In good and in bad times - I used to read the bible. Here at the very center are songs, rising up like a tune from the heart. Cries from the heart - songs for sorrow as well as joy. I am talking about the psalms. They capture the innermost thoughts and prayers of the Old Testament people - and they will speak directly to our needs.

For every motion and mood, you can find a psalm to match. The psalms wrestle with the deepest sorrow and ask God the hardest questions about suffering and injustice. Their voice is refreshingly spontaneous. They do not tip flowery compliments toward God: they cry out to Him, or shout for joy before Him.

In almost every psalm you find the presence of God, not as a philosophical principle, but as an active, strong, and loving ruler. Since reading the psalms, I found out that God really makes many differences in my life.

How did the psalms come together? They seem to have been compiled as hymnbooks for use in temple worship. Some psalms were written from an individual's experiences, but were adapted for congregational use. Directions for musicians were added.

Living by faith is not always easy - especially in these times of the "new normality". These powerful poems of worship and praise offer no magical formulas to make troubles go away. Yet, while real life questions, struggles, and discouragements have strong voices in these poems, more powerful still is the voice of joy and security in strength.

The best way to read the psalms is also the most common way: to make these ancient prayers your own and speak them directly to God. So many of the poems catch deep human feelings that you can't help being moved by them.

There are so many psalms. It is indeed the longest book of the bible. The richest lessons from psalms may come from difficult poems you must read again and again until you understand them. They merely ask time and close attention. My suggestion: read and reread them. They grow richer with careful study.

Happy New Year 2020/Frohes Neues Jahr 2020

Before we end 2019, let me say this:

For the friendship

For the care

For the laughter

For the bond

For the jokes

For the text messages

For the smiles

For everything YOU have shared

THANK YOU…

peace in your heart,

health in your body,

wealth in your life,

joy in your home,

may you always be blessed with this priceless treasures.

Happy New Year 2020!
Ein Frohes und Gesegnetes Neues Jahr 2020!