beWARM

     Sotto Voce –   (pronounced , sot -toh voh -che) (literally “under voice”), an Italian expression, means to speak under one’s breath. In music, a dramatic lowering of the vocal or instrumental tone — not necessarily pianissimo, but with a hushed quality

Within a 24 hour period this weekend, our musical intake covered a wide spectrum.  There are a myriad of melodies still dancing around in my head, creating new harmonies. First came Donizetti‘s comic opera Don Pasquale, a performance by the New York Metropolitan Opera viewed live in HD at the Lensic Theater.

Even if you are not an opera fan, The HD experience places you in the center of the action, in such a way that is captivating. ( for me, that translates to not one minute of “napping” during the entire performance)

As a bonus, you get to see behind the scenes; between acts, performers are interviewed, and you get a bird’s eye view of  the sets being changed. If you have the opportunity, you should give this a try – at least once. You might get hooked.

Next in the musical line-up…A performance of Stephen Sondheim’s “Company” by Santa Fe REP.  Having seen this many years ago,  observing differences in this director’s staging and character presentation was refreshing, and we enjoyed hearing the familiar songs.  The production was well done – and funny!

Still within this 24 hour period,  more music…this time at church, as a singer…with our amazingly talented worship team leaders,  Diane and John Gibbs.  Enjoying the chance to pour out some of those notes I had injested the day before, I found myself reflecting on the privilege of being able to praise God through music.

Later, when the sheer volume of  “note-intake” continued to overwhelm me, a longing for quietness crept in.  I am a firm believer that silence is a treasure that many shy away from in a world stuffed with aural stimulation at every turn.

Quiet…imagine that.

And envision time spent just sitting with God…enjoying His presence…without any pressure or expectation on His part.

He loves it when we can just be…with Him.

For the past few years, I have made an effort to spend more time in stillness with God.  Most times, I  sit quietly, earnestly trying to empty my mind  – sometimes a trash bin of excess “chatter” – of all distractions.

In other instances, I practice Centering Prayer, which involves repetition of a personal “prayer word”;  when my mind wanders off  ( and believe me, it often does), coming back to that special word brings me back to where I want to be – with God.

The remarkable discovery has been that  taking the time for noiselessness brings added dimension to my day.  The inner tranquility that results allows  the day that I had perceived as crammed with activity to feel broad and expansive.

God, with His all-encompassing peace, has come to the rescue.

When was the last time you experienced complete, total silence – even more than a sotto voce  whisper?

On my first attempt, even a few minutes seemed an eternity.  Now, a twenty minute interval is a luxurious interlude.

Music and theater will always be an important and enriching part of my life.  They are gifts from God, as are all other things of beauty in this world.

To me, though, the most precious….and enduring gift…is the time spent in deepening my relationship with God.

Try out some silence…

It is there…where you truly hear His Music.

My soul finds rest in God alone; my salvation comes from Him. ~Psalm 62:1

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For a secular discussion of the lack of silence in our world, visit this link: http://www.salon.com/books/feature/2010/04/04/pursuit_of_silence_interview