It's Like a Symphony

I found this tender song a few weeks ago, which I have become obsessed with.  I love the melody line in the chorus, but more, I love the message that we all need each other to make any sense of the world around us.  What would an orchestra of only tubas or cellos be like?  Life is difficult and chaotic most of the time, like (at least in my experience) many musical ensemble rehersals are.  Growing up, I always participated in piano and choirs, and dabbled a little bit with flute and violin.  Most of my choir directors were fabulous.  Mr. Wenz, one of my favorite choir directors led us win the state choir competition every year I sang in his choir, Symphonic, and we knew he meant business.  

He demanded excellence, and we gave it to him...most of the time. I still think of the quote he had posted on the door often:

But, we were still high school students, and getting the dozens of us to get and remain on the same page was no small task, I am sure.  Rehearsals were usually loud and full of mistakes.  He taught us that if we were going to make mistakes to make them loudly so they could be fixed.  We laughed a lot, he told stories a lot, we sang ridiculous warm-up exercises, he would sometimes stomp his feet or slam his hands down on the piano when he felt that we were close, but missed the greatness that "could have been..."

It was one of my favorite classes, but still a high school class.  Full of teenagers.

But, every once in awhile...

We experienced moments of magic.  That's the only way I know how to describe them.  They happened usually in rehearsals, not performances.  There were moments of absolute perfection, when the very walls around us seemed to stand in awe of the sound we created.  Everyone could feel the beauty of those rare moments.  Sometimes, the sheer power of the music would bring us to tears as we sang, or leave us with goosebumps.  It was a truly incredible thing to be a part of.

As I grow older, I can see how similar our lives are to these choir days I had.  Most of life is chaotic and loud.  Most of it is messy and rattled with mistakes, some made loudly, some that others would never detect.  But, life is usually uncannily like a classroom of teenagers.  Even as an adult, I find myself feeling aimless or wondering where I belong.  I frequently reassess my purpose and question my motives, ambitions, goals, and actions.  But on wonderful, rare occasions, I feel that magic again.  There are times when I figure out my part and find a way to work in harmony with those around me to create a masterpiece.  Life is like a symphony...but not just the performance.  We have to take the experience from start to finish: try-outs, rehearsals, mistakes, chaos, demanding directors, new friends, sweet melodies, performances...all of it. 


Glorious

Written by Stephanie Mabey, Performed by Russ Dixon

There are times when you might feel aimless

And can’t see the places where you belong

But you will find that there is a purpose

It’s been there within you all along

And when you’re near it

You can almost hear it

It’s like a symphony just keep listening

And pretty soon you’ll start to figure out your part
Everyone plays a piece and there are melodies
In each one of us, oh, it’s glorious

You will know how to let it ring out

As you discover who you are

Others around you will start to wake up

To the sounds that are in their hearts

It’s so amazing

What we’re all creating

It’s like a symphony just keep listening
And pretty soon you’ll start to figure out your part
Everyone plays a piece and there are melodies
In each one of us, oh, it’s glorious

And as you feel, the notes build, you will see

It’s like a symphony just keep listening
And pretty soon you’ll start to figure out your part
Everyone plays a piece and there are melodies
In each one of us, oh, it’s glorious

This song (the version recorded by David Archuleta) was recently featured in a new full-length documentary called Meet the Mormons.  Go see it in a theatre near you!