The Power of Music

Have you ever noticed how music can calm your mind or your body when you feel stressed, overwhelmed or anxious about a situation, an event or a relationship?

Certain genres of music can affect moods in different ways – music at most Broadway shows makes me want to jump out of my seat, join the dancers on stage and tap dance with them; opera music reminds me of my dad, who listened to the opera performance on the radio every Saturday afternoon; music with lyrics is difficult for me to listen to when working because I start singing along with the song and forget what I am doing; but music without words calms my mind and my mood, helping me gain a different perspective on whatever is bothering me. 

This summer on our annual river vacation, I saw firsthand how music calmed my 5-month-old granddaughter. One hot Tuesday afternoon, my daughter, her 6-year-old son, 5-month-old daughter and I were driving back from Landa Park in New Braunfels to our river house. We had spent the afternoon at the park, swimming, riding the train and having a good time, but the trip back to the river house was taking much longer than a 5-month-old felt was necessary. My granddaughter was not a happy camper and she let us know this by screaming as loudly as she could. We tried talking to her, her brother tried to make her laugh, nothing worked until my daughter started singing the song, “Oh Lord, Prepare Me to Be a Sanctuary.”^[1] The only part of the song we knew was the refrain, so all three of us sang that same refrain for the next 30 minutes with my grandson telling his mom that their voices sound good together! Miraculously, the crying subsided and we had a quiet baby for the rest of the trip down River Road. Several other times during our vacation, I would sing to my granddaughter when she was crying; I tried singing one of my favorite communion hymns, but the only song that worked for her continued to be “Oh Lord, Prepare Me to Be a Sanctuary.” 

I thought quite a bit about how this particular song soothed and quieted my granddaughter, and I realized the many hymns we sing during worship and communion do the very same thing for us. Our familiar hymns provide comfort, allowing us to connect with God whether we are feeling anxious, joyful, grumpy or lighthearted. Music is one of God’s loveliest creations; by humming or singing a favorite song or hymn, our minds and bodies can be restored to a feeling of calm and peace.

[1] Christian Gospel song, 1980s