Professor Smith replaced her spectacles on the bridge of her nose and continued. "Perhaps if Bach had written Messiah, we never would have heard it..." What an interesting thought. Bach died in obscurity. People considered his music old-fashioned. Over a third of his sacred cantatas have been lost or destroyed. The prestigious Handel, on the other hand, was well-known and respected throughout his entire lifetime. People paid attention to his music. Perhaps this is why God chose him to be the bearer of His inspiring, musical message. I wonder too, if it was a way for God to reach out to Handel personally - something that Bach already had...
Friday, September 28, 2007
Musings on Messiah
Professor Smith replaced her spectacles on the bridge of her nose and continued. "Perhaps if Bach had written Messiah, we never would have heard it..." What an interesting thought. Bach died in obscurity. People considered his music old-fashioned. Over a third of his sacred cantatas have been lost or destroyed. The prestigious Handel, on the other hand, was well-known and respected throughout his entire lifetime. People paid attention to his music. Perhaps this is why God chose him to be the bearer of His inspiring, musical message. I wonder too, if it was a way for God to reach out to Handel personally - something that Bach already had...
Wednesday, September 05, 2007
Good Gifts
Traditionally, marriage is thought to be the final slice in the chord that once tied a kid to his or her parents. Mom and Dad are at last free from the dutiful bonds of child rearing, and are free to think: "They're off on their own now. No more need of shelter, discipline, or providence from out hands!" Thankfully, neither Paul's nor my parents are subscribers to this viewpoint. In fact, their generosity seems to have veritably exploded. Perhaps it's because they enjoy having a new family member to shower love upon. Perhaps it's because they're aware of what dreadful pinch pennies we both are. But whatever the case, Paul and I have found our little home flooded with edible gifts. Whenever we come within close proximity of either set of parents, it's impossible to escape the watermelons, peaches, bread, pretzels, peanut butter, rice, granola, lentils, soy milk, and flax seeds that come flying in our direction. I couldn't help but marvel when I read the verse quoted above. If I'm so impressed at my parents' unsolicited generosity, how much more should I be impressed with God's! He's given me an ideal life partner, wonderful siblings and parents, an education, food to eat, a house to live in, a natural world to enjoy, and on and on and on. If He's given me all of these things, for which I haven't asked, how much more will He provide for me when I actually do ask? "Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:6,7
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