Finding God in Music -Cl. Melton Suares POEMS

Finding God in Music

St Francis of Assisi was a man who found God in everything, he was very much attuned to the being of nature wherein he manifested his love for God, which one can especially see in his sermons to the fish, talks with the birds, etc.

In a similar manner, the inspiration for me to write this article came from the book entitled ‘The Shack’, written by W. M. Paul Young, wherein the author narrates the story of a man who finds God in the most desperate moments of his life, especially after the death of his youngest daughter. One of the points that struck me other than the incredible story was the incident wherein God, who takes the form of an elderly African woman in this novel says this with regards to music,

‘God listens to everything, not just music, but the heart behind it.’ This made me think about what my outlook is on music after joining the religious way of life. Am I a person who only prefers to listen to artists who were dealing with Gospel songs or am I able to see beyond? There are so many secular songs that help us to see God in not so much as an explicit way, but rather very subtly. Am I looking at songs with these lenses? A few days after I had read the book, Cl. Chichanbemo George for his good night talk, took up the lyrics of the famous Justin Bieber song entitled ‘As I Am’ and emphasized on the following lyrics,

Sometimes, I don't know why you love me Sometimes, I don't know why you care Take me with the good and the ugly Say, "I'm not goin' anywhere" Take me as I am, swear I'll do the best I can Say, "I'm not goin' anywhere" Take me as I am, swear I'll do the best I can Say, "I'm not goin' anywhere" There are several other songs like Alan Walkers, Alone Pt II mentioned below, which DD Express 26

resemble the cry of a soul looking for someone to share their life with. Then I saw your face, your forgiving eyes Looking back at me from the other side Like you understood me And I'm never letting you go, oh We all need that someone Who gets you like no one else Right when you need it the most We all need a soul to rely on A shoulder to cry on A friend through the highs and the lows Another song which I wish to put forth is again Justin Biebers, ‘Anyone’, which someone has beautifully connected with Scriptures

You are the only one I’ve ever loved (Luke 10:27) If it’s not you, it’s not anyone (Isiah 43:11)

Lookin’ back on my life, you're the only good I’ve ever done (Ps 37:3) There are so many songs out there that can connect us to God in so many ways because I think music is the sound of spirits—our spirits. Music has the ability to convey messages of greater meaning that can unify and allow us to recognize one another’s humanity. A song is a shared story, it is also an opportunity to know that we are not alone, and to learn from one another. It can also be seen as a prayer, or a prophetic message, a call to action, and even the philosophy of one’s life. All we require to see it is an open mind, ears, and a discerning spirit. Cl. Melton Suares

Poems

Without You Oh Mother! O sweetest mother of Christ, O most dear, Without you in life, nothing is clear; You are the one in my life all in all, And without you I am nothing at all. There is no one like you so great, You are the one, a friend so best; Who guides and leads like a shining light, Teaches me to take every step in life.

Your presence in my life, as though a Garden of Eden, Where the tender care of God was given; With Softness of your love, in your arms you carry, Where the cares of this world never take me worry. You love me, and I love you and it is really heaven, As though, you for me and me for you are chosen; Indeed your love, is, ever true to me, It is now that my heart realizes within me. Yes, I realize you as I feel your absence, Remaining from you at the far off distance; Where without you it is, a dry desert, I am like a small flower fight. Without you, I am like deer without water, Penetrating for a tributary of Active River. But unfortunately it finds nowhere as of yours, An overflowing streams of love that you bear.

Every morning as the day begins, I remember your hands for me does a lot of things; Raise me, wash me, and nourish me thyself, Now all that I need to do it all by myself. Unless sheltered by you where shall I cope?

Where else shall I have a hope?

There's no one perceives my pain, Yet you, O mother, really understand mine. Without you, life is harder to imagine, It seems to have stopped all engine; And the night comes like a deadly thing,

Leaves me lifeless just like a sting. Now, I have no desire save only to be with you, Enough is enough keeping me far from you; For every little thing I need is you my mother, And I no more wish to live without you any further. Cl. Avinash Tirkey