Music and the Divine

Music can reach to the inner core of my being. Music can soothe, comfort, excite, irritate, cause laughter, move one to tears, or fill one with joy. Name an emotion or deep feeling and there is likely some music that can evoke that feeling.

Tonight I experienced joy and excitement in a performance by Sones de Mexico, a Latin music group from Chicago. They have an amazing array of instruments and play music from various regions and periods of Mexico. The acoustics of Sauder Music Center and an audience comprised of many people unhampered by conservative Mennonite roots made the concert particularly lively. How can you listen to Latin music and not get caught up in excitement, joy and movement? This certainly was an event that contributed to my sense of well being.

I believe human creativity, and music in particular, is evidence of the Divine. There are many times I sit through a church service in which my only time of worship is during the organ offertory or postlude. But experiencing the Divine should not be limited to a religious service. Although I did not think 'divine thoughts' during the performance this evening, my subsequent reflection on the performance, the beauty of the music and the creativity of the composers and performers causes me to marvel at the transcendent nature of human beings and the manner in which we are in God and of God.