Speaking in the Light – We Must Keep the Music Playing 9-29

Is it not rather funny that while our local schools are in the midst of making decisions to cut music and arts from their curriculum, one of the highest rated shows in our country is a television program called ‘Glee?”
Glee focuses on a high school show choir named “New Directions,” at the fictional William McKinley High School in Lima, Ohio, which is north of Dayton for all of you a bit geographically challenged. I really only know that because I used to live in Dayton and had to drive to Lima one day.
Now while I have never seen a single episode of Glee, I have heard the music from my daughter Abbie’s CD soundtracks and what I do love is how they have wonderfully reintroduced classic songs like, Charlie Chaplin’s “Smile,” Funny Girl’s “Don’t Rain On My Parade,” Sinatra’s “The Lady Is A Tramp,” and one the cheesiest songs the 70’s ever produced, “Run Joey Run” to a whole new generation.
I like hearing my kids sing show tunes and Sinatra and Nat King Cole. It does my heart good. But I do fear that local school boards, because of budgetary pressures, continue to make light of the importance of music and the arts when it comes to our children’s educations. Are they actually also making the decision to rob them of essential ingredients that actually strengthen and mature their very souls?
I do not go a single day without music playing in some way shape or form. Even as I write this article, I have inspirational tones emanating from my stereo to provide the necessary encouragement I need to bring the very best out of me as I write to all of you. Creation really does burst regularly with songs shouting out its presence; and the hills truly do come alive with the sounds of music. Julie Andrews knew what she was singing about. You don’t disagree with Mary Poppins.
At sunrise, the birds know how to greet the dawn. They sing a melody to usher in every gift of the brand new day. During the afternoon, I love how George Gershwin interpreted the sounds of what might be nothing more than a normal, noisy, grungy and busy city by producing for us his “Rhapsody In Blue.” Listen to the rhythm of the falling rain and the notes that exude from the rushing wind.
And at sundown, Buddy Holly smiles from above as he sits in the audience of the crickets chirping away not caring what anybody thinks about their performance! They were designed with the need to express and that’ll be the day they ever do otherwise!
The inclusion of music and the arts should be a non-negotiable entity when it comes to an education of any kind. Even God Himself had the angels hum while He was creating this grand and magnificent universe. Snow White was not the first one who whistled while she worked.
I haven’t gone a day since I graduated where music hasn’t inspired me in some way shape or form. I do treat life like it was a Broadway soundtrack and I have been known to break out in song even while I am preaching. A school with no music is like a body with no soul.
Contrary to public opinion, we are not just mechanical physical machines. I am sorry Joe Friday, but our kids need more than just the facts and figures to make them come alive. We are spiritual beings and the arts give us an avenue for that creativity to find its voice, its stage, its canvas, its magic.
Take that away and you might as well paint everything else in drab black and white. What would this world be like without blue and orange? I don’t even want to know.
I want to close with my passionate plea to keep believing in the need for music. I want to exhort all of you who desire to sing, to sing. Both Earth Wind and Fire and Barry Manilow knew the power of adding a soundtrack to your daily repertoire.
“When you feel down and out, sing a song, it’ll make your day. Here’s a time to shout, sing a song, it’ll make a way.
Sometimes it’s hard to care, sing a song; it’ll make your day. A smile’s so hard to bear, sing a song, it’ll make a way.”
“Just one voice, singing in the darkness, all it takes is one voice, singing so they hear what’s on your mind, and when you look around you’ll find there’s more than one voice, singing in the darkness, joining with your one voice, each and every note another octave, hands are joined and fears unlocked, if only one voice would start it on its own, we need just one voice facing the unknown, and then that one voice would never be alone, it takes that one voice.
Just one voice, singing in the darkness, all it takes is one voice, shout it out and let it ring. Just one voice, it takes that one voice, and everyone will sing!”
There will be no glee in this county, if we somehow kill the music. I humbly ask you please to do whatever you can, to use whatever gifts of influence that God has given you to keep the arts alive.
This is no time to turn the radio off but to turn it up for it will turn out students who will be complete in not only head knowledge but in the matters of the heart! Thank you…
Write Pastor Rudy pastorrudytlc@comcast.net
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