We have a bell choir in our church. Not an unusual thing, I know, but on the other hand there are probably only a few such choirs comparatively. For bell choirs, I think ours is pretty good. They don't play real often, so when they do its something a bit special. It always adds something to the service I think.
Having said that, I'm not a huge bell choir fan. I wouldn't care to have them play every Sunday, or every other Sunday for that matter. There are very small bells and very large bells, and many in between sized bells. There are also some "bongers," (for lack of the knowledge of their real name), but something that adds a bit of a different sound mixed in at times. And there are women and men, younger and older and in-betweeners. And of course there is a director.
Our bell choir played this morning, and while I always knew how they needed to play together to make the tune that they planned to make, this morning it came to me in a new way just how much of a "team" they really are. Each person with their bell(s) must ring their bell at just exactly the right instant or a discord will sound, or some needed note will be missed. No gawking around mind you! No looking to see who's there this morning! Now in a vocal choir one can do that, perhaps, and get by with it, but not in a bell choir.
As this thought was impressed on me this morning, I was made to think just how wonderful it would be if the whole congregation could be like the bell choir when they're playing. No one looking around to see how everyone else is doing, no waiting on someone else to "ring our bell," but everyone just doing what they have committed to do, when and how they're supposed to do it to make the "music" God wants to see and hear. No time to gawk around and see who's not doing their part properly, or who may not be playing at all. All listening to the others and keeping their eyes on the "director" as needed to make the harmony.
Perhaps bell choirs are an example for all of us, huh? I don't have what it would take to play in a bell choir but I do have what it takes to "play in God's bell choir." Question is, am I looking around too much to see what others are doing and missing my "beat?" Lord help us stay in tune with You so that our lives will be as music in your ears.
Pilgrim on the way
4 comments:
I on the other hand do enjoy bell choirs very much. Raleigh has a bell choir called the Raleigh Ringers and I would go hear them do a whole concert. To mean wonderful music. But I never thought about them in the same way you did and then apply that to our liver. Amen to your thoughts.
I really didn't mean liver, but lives:-) I guess I need to proof read better.
I like your analogy. I must admit that I don't always play "in sync" and sometimes let myself wander from what God has in mind for me. Thanks for the reminder.
I think the great big bells are the fun ones. I've always wanted to give it a try, but never have. We had them at the Lutheran churches we've attended in the past and the affect you describe here is hard to miss.
Post a Comment