worship

A week ago, Jason & I went to see Paul Simon & Sting. While I enjoy both, Paul Simon was definitely my favorite part of the evening.

We were listening to Paul Simon & Sting sing a duet of "the Boxer" & something about it moved me to tears. It wasn't simply the beautiful lyrics or the effortless harmonies provided by 2 legends of our time. Rather, it was the simply stirring in my heart that overwhelmed me with gratitude. 

I wanted to raise my hands & worship the Lord. Not because the lyrics necessarily stirred that in me. Rather, it was complete gratitude for brilliant & wonderful music that brings life to my wounded soul.

I sometimes think that the Christian culture has made worship into something that we have put into a box of what it should look like. In doing so, it seems that some of the beauty of worship & what it should be has been taken away from it.

Frederick Buechner describes worship as the following:

"Phrases like worship service & service of worship are tautologies. To worship God means to serve God. Basically there are two ways to do it. One way is to do things for God that God needs to have done- run errands for God, carry messages for God, fight on God's side, feed God's lambs, and so on. The other way is to do things for God that you need to do- sing songs for God, create beautiful things for God, give things up for God, tell God what's on your mind and in your heart, in general rejoice in God and make a fool of yourself for God the way lovers have always made a fool of themselves for the one they love.

A Quaker meeting, a pontifical High Mass, the family service at Zion Episcopal, a Holy Roller happening- unless there is an element of joy and foolishness in the proceedings, the time would be better spent doing something useful."

I think that's what it's about. Loving the Lord with all of our hearts & rejoicing in all & anything. 

So what if I happen to be listening to Paul Simon & Sting singing about whores & boxing. . . the beauty of that song touched a deep place in my soul & I am thankful & will worship the Lord for creating a spot within myself to is moved by beautiful music~