Worship Music

In the children’s worship class at my church, there is a tug-of-war of sorts over the music. For a long time, the standard request every Sunday morning was Joshua Fought the Battle of Jericho. Kids lined up along the wall and sang the song, and then fell down at “the wall came tumbling down” – except that several children found it hilarious every week to remain standing, and then we would sing it again to see if we could get the whole wall down.
 
After several years of this routine, a number of us teachers felt that we could no longer take it. The song was loud and chaotic, and there was no evident spiritual benefit. Some of the kids really disliked it. So we wielded our adult power and stopped taking that request in favor of songs like This Little Light of Mine and Jesus Loves Me. Before long, a formal petition was registered by one child participant in the form of a letter taped to the children’s worship wall: “Don’t band Joshwa foght the Batle of Jaraco from this cherch.” Our worship director’s comment? “Song preference troubles start young.”
 
Indeed, we all seem to have strong opinions about church music. Song preferences run deep in the river of culture, generational experience, and personal life history. I have struggled through many a church worship service in my life fuming about the music. This, I could point out, is not the most Christian attitude toward worship.
 
Mindfulness has something to offer here. The things that get me fuming about song choice are thoughts. Not facts, but judgments – my interpretations and cognitive reactions to the songs. Recently, I have started practicing mindful awareness during worship services.

• I notice the sound of each instrument, including any vibrations that might come through the floor.
• I notice the sound of voices blended together.
• I close my eyes and notice God’s presence in our midst.
• I open my eyes and take in the shapes and colors of our sanctuary and of the notes on the screen.
• I become aware of our common humanity, standing together and singing – people who are all broken, who all suffer, but who have shown up to worship God together.

In other words, I move out of thinking into being. I move out of judgment into curiosity. I open up through my senses to the experience of worship. This leads to a dramatic shift in my attitude and my ability to connect with God. It moves me out of over-analysis and into the place where God is - the present moment.

Mindfulness helps me worship.