Sing to the Lord, all the earth

After General Assembly, those who were there saw me participate in “Disciples Idol,” singing the "Disciples Almas Mater". * For people who know me, it was no surprise that I was up there singing. It’s what I’ve always done. According to my parents (because I don’t remember), I jumped on a table and sang “The More we Get Together” at a bon voyage party when I was two. I haven’t stopped singing since. I sing everywhere and with anyone. I sing in my room, in the shower, in church. I sing in the car, at work, even in lab! Sing, sing, sing. All the time. Music is one of the gift’s God blessed me with. And it’s a gift I like to share with everyone!

I’ve grown up in choirs. It’s been my community. When I first came to Oxy, one of the first things I did was attend a “welcome” concert put on by the school’s Glee Club (dorky name, amazing choir! Look us up on YouTube!). It was so good and everyone was so nice afterward I felt like it was a good place for me to be. Turns out I was right. We work hard, sing a LOT, but have so much fun — which for me is what it’s all about. We’re such a close group who share my love of singing and music. It’s great!

For “fun” or solos, I sing mostly classical music or opera arias. It’s almost gotten to be a point of pride when I brag about being “classically trained.” But it’s not about what type of music I sing. It’s about me sharing my gifts with those who want to hear it and about using my gifts to glorify the Lord. Hymns and singing in church has always been my favorite part of service. First it was because of my love of music. Later it became a centering point, where I could “talk with God” in my own way. More often than not, when I’m singing is when I feel closest to God.

When one sings so much in so many different contexts, it can be easy to forget that music truly is a gift from God and that it should be shared. It certainly happened to me. My choir joined up with another choir on campus and the Pasadena Symphony to perform Verdi’s Requiem on April 12th. We were told at the beginning of the semester that it was a big piece and a unique opportunity for a school as small as Occidental to be able to perform. At first it was really cool to be a part of a “bigger picture,” but soon I started to resent it. Yes, it was a great opportunity, but I did not sign up for Glee Club to sing this type of music. I dreaded going to rehearsal and even singing. The enjoyment I have always had in singing began to disappear. By the time the dress rehearsals rolled around, I was ready for this experience to be over. My heart just wasn’t in it.

During the performance though, what I was doing finally hit me: I was singing a prayer to God. A two-hour prayer to God. Time seemed to stand still as we the chorus and the soloists sang and the orchestra played. It wasn’t about the audience, because I was singing to God. It wasn’t about money, not because I wasn’t getting any, but because I was singing to God. It didn’t matter where I stood, or how loud I was because I was singing for God. And that was the most important thing; I was singing to God and for God.