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| Adding their song... |
Today, I have heard them adding their song - noisy, urgent chirping - to the cacophony of birdsongs around us. There is something beautifully fitting to me about hearing their song for the first time today because I found out a little while ago that a dear friend and wonderful musician died last night.
Ashlyn was one of my piano teachers in college. Ever patient, ever encouraging, she brought joy to playing the piano that I had never had before. I wasn't her best student - nowhere even close - in terms of ability, but she encouraged me anyway. Beyond that, she challenged me to think always in terms of the Bigger Picture. It was Ashlyn that introduced me to a wider world of music - music as ministry to people's souls. As I grew as a choral conductor and as a minister of music, Ashlyn was one of many who stood beside me - or, more accurately - followed my lead while sitting at a piano or organ console.
Much like the birds today, giving me their new song, Ashlyn gave me my song, in many ways. I had never felt very confident musically before knowing her. I had never felt very brave. She was one who instilled both confidence and bravery in me - drawing them out from...someplace.
And now, she is gone. I am left weeping for the void, weeping because she was truly one of the most beautiful people I have ever known, weeping because her earthly song has been silenced.
Joy will come in the morning because we teach and believe and confess that at the grave, we make our song, "Alleuia! Praise the Lord!" Even at the grave, we are led to words of praise - words that seem strange coming from trembling lips - words that seem raw upon our hurting hearts. Thank God that he hears our hurting cries and our angry cries before the cries of praise come forth.
Joy will come in the morning.
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