The Song of a Baby's Cry
Lectionary Readings: Isaiah 12; Isaiah 65: 17-25; Psalm 118; 2 Thessalonians 2:1-5, 13-17; Luke 20: 27-38 “Surely God is my salvation; I will trust and not be afraid. The Lord is my strength and my song, he has become my salvation.” Isaiah 12: 2
I have a framed message in my living room that says: “God gave us music so we could pray without words.” It is the end-part of an anonymous quote that starts with “Bach gave us God’s word; Mozart gave us God’s laughter; and Beethoven gave us God’s fire.” Music is a magnificent means of communication. Most of us have chosen one or more genres that we enjoy and probably a list of examples that make a “favorites list”. God created us in his image, so I joyfully jump to the conclusion that God loves music also. I believe He gave us music to communicate with each other and with Him.
Some have speculated that music actually begins in the womb. The rhythm of the mother’s heart, all of mom’s internal bodily noises, as well as the music of the fluid the baby moves in supply melodies to the developing baby’s brain. Then after birth, the loving messages of those who cuddle and attempt to soothe the baby provide the first external notes.
Babies, however, cannot respond in kind (at least at first). Babies mainly communicate with crying. The baby cries for food, warmth, dryness, relief of gas, fear, loneliness, etc. Crying does not initially compare favorably to a definition of a song. Many a care giver has been frustrated by the cries of a baby--especially when it seems that after multiple attempts to determine the cause of the cry, the baby is not soothed. And yet, the song of crying signifies life—the child is sending out messages.
I have really enjoyed my volunteer hours at Lily’s Place and am thrilled when asked to cuddle one of these special little ones. I am not always successful in the game of “soothe the baby to sleep” though. Recently we’ve cared for a special one who frustrated many of his care givers. He cried when he was being fed and therefore didn’t always eat his full measure, he cried when he was swaddled, and when he was unbound, cried when he was both wet and dry, cried when he was rocked and when he was still, cried when left alone and when he received attention. He was prayed for, sung to, loved, cuddled, rocked and snuggled. It seems nothing soothed him—at least for any length of time. What was he trying to communicate? What was he saying with his cries?
The baby’s cries were frustrating but not life threatening. But maybe the cries symbolize something else, like the collective cries of all those in pain or who grieve. Perhaps they are the messages of all who are lonely and afraid. They could also be a joyful statement: “Look, I’m alive in spite of my rough beginning and I want everyone to know it.” He was communicating with us and we were trying to listen to catch his meaning. His song was not the one we expected, but it was his message. What can this baby teach us about our relationship with God?
We are often too busy with our own agenda to listen for God’s message. We fill our own silence with white noise and insignificant background sound to feel less alone and isolated. When we seek Him or respond, our song often sounds flat and out of rhythm because we have not truly listened to God. God tells us to not be afraid, that He is with us. However, God’s message to us is not always what we expect as He speaks to us in many voices and uses words, music, nature, silence, etc.. When we ignore His message we miss the chance to sing a new song that allows God to become our salvation and strength.
“I love you, Lord, and I lift my voice to worship you, O my soul rejoice!
Take joy, my King in what you hear; May it be a sweet, sweet sound in your ear.”
Laurie Klein (the Faith We Sing)
Chyrl Budd
I have a framed message in my living room that says: “God gave us music so we could pray without words.” It is the end-part of an anonymous quote that starts with “Bach gave us God’s word; Mozart gave us God’s laughter; and Beethoven gave us God’s fire.” Music is a magnificent means of communication. Most of us have chosen one or more genres that we enjoy and probably a list of examples that make a “favorites list”. God created us in his image, so I joyfully jump to the conclusion that God loves music also. I believe He gave us music to communicate with each other and with Him.
Some have speculated that music actually begins in the womb. The rhythm of the mother’s heart, all of mom’s internal bodily noises, as well as the music of the fluid the baby moves in supply melodies to the developing baby’s brain. Then after birth, the loving messages of those who cuddle and attempt to soothe the baby provide the first external notes.
Babies, however, cannot respond in kind (at least at first). Babies mainly communicate with crying. The baby cries for food, warmth, dryness, relief of gas, fear, loneliness, etc. Crying does not initially compare favorably to a definition of a song. Many a care giver has been frustrated by the cries of a baby--especially when it seems that after multiple attempts to determine the cause of the cry, the baby is not soothed. And yet, the song of crying signifies life—the child is sending out messages.
I have really enjoyed my volunteer hours at Lily’s Place and am thrilled when asked to cuddle one of these special little ones. I am not always successful in the game of “soothe the baby to sleep” though. Recently we’ve cared for a special one who frustrated many of his care givers. He cried when he was being fed and therefore didn’t always eat his full measure, he cried when he was swaddled, and when he was unbound, cried when he was both wet and dry, cried when he was rocked and when he was still, cried when left alone and when he received attention. He was prayed for, sung to, loved, cuddled, rocked and snuggled. It seems nothing soothed him—at least for any length of time. What was he trying to communicate? What was he saying with his cries?
The baby’s cries were frustrating but not life threatening. But maybe the cries symbolize something else, like the collective cries of all those in pain or who grieve. Perhaps they are the messages of all who are lonely and afraid. They could also be a joyful statement: “Look, I’m alive in spite of my rough beginning and I want everyone to know it.” He was communicating with us and we were trying to listen to catch his meaning. His song was not the one we expected, but it was his message. What can this baby teach us about our relationship with God?
We are often too busy with our own agenda to listen for God’s message. We fill our own silence with white noise and insignificant background sound to feel less alone and isolated. When we seek Him or respond, our song often sounds flat and out of rhythm because we have not truly listened to God. God tells us to not be afraid, that He is with us. However, God’s message to us is not always what we expect as He speaks to us in many voices and uses words, music, nature, silence, etc.. When we ignore His message we miss the chance to sing a new song that allows God to become our salvation and strength.
“I love you, Lord, and I lift my voice to worship you, O my soul rejoice!
Take joy, my King in what you hear; May it be a sweet, sweet sound in your ear.”
Laurie Klein (the Faith We Sing)
Chyrl Budd
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