When music is connected to deep emotion, it can sear itself into our minds, always connected to that emotion. My friend’s husband passed away unexpectedly after a concert, and it is too painful for her to listen to Garth Brooks’ music, even two years later. My heart raced and I had a flashback to my car accident when I later heard the song that was playing at the time of the accident. But then, there are the beautiful memories connected to music: your favorite song when you learned to drive, the special song you share with your spouse (my parents heard “Only You” on their honeymoon and it’s been their song for 65 years!), the first song your child memorizes, church hymns that bring you peace and a feeling of home, classical music that has always delighted your soul. We can invite music to move our souls closer to heaven.
This weekend is All Saints Sunday. Someone you love that is now in heaven probably had a favorite song. You most likely know the song and have strong loving memories attached to it. Play it if you can, even if only in your mind, and remember. What a beautiful blessing music is. Longfellow said, “Music is the universal language of mankind.” And Beethoven asserted, “Music can change the world.” It can change our moods and change our attitudes. Music can reach little ones who rock on hands and knees to a beat. And special music seared deep in the mind of a person with dementia can bring a joyful memory back to the surface. Enjoy some music this week. Be moved. With joy watching a tiny one’s first dance to music, Tracy