«My heart is overflowing with a good theme; I recite my composition concerning the King» (Psalm 45:1)
The seventh item of the Pathfinder Law commands us to «keep a song in my heart.» Because of the lockdown mandated to maintain preventive isolation during the COVID—19 pandemic, that maxim has become much more significant. Since attendance at church was forbidden and there was no opportunity to meet with our brothers and sisters in the faith, many songs and hymns were kept only in the heart.
The people where I live are characterized by their large Adventist population, so the pastors sent messages to all the church members so that, at sunset on Sabbath, they would go out of their door to sing a hymn (which had been agreed on in advance). In that sense, it was easier to be connected in the praise of what perhaps was for others during the lockdown.
You have probably seen many videos of orchestras, choirs, ensembles, and soloists who individually recorded each part and then put it together in a joint virtual performance because music would not “shut down” in the midst of the crisis.
Music proved once again to be a great driving force of optimism and perseverance despite the bad timing, and made it possible for us, as a church, to share many messages of hope and faith.
Everything that happened reminded me of a beautiful quotation that is found in The Ministry of Healing: «In the full light of day, and in hearing of the music of other voices, the caged bird will not sing the song that his master seeks to teach him. He learns a snatch of this, a trill of that, but never a separate and entire melody. But the master covers the cage, and places it where the bird will listen to the one song he is to sing. In the dark, he tries and tries again to sing that song until it is learned, and he breaks forth in perfect melody. Then the bird is brought forth, and ever after he can sing that song in the light. Thus God deals with His children. He has a song to teach us, and when we have learned it amid the shadows of affliction, we can sing it ever afterward» (ch. 40, p. 472).
Beyond the situation you find yourself in today, in lockdown or in total freedom, remember that He has a song to teach you, a song in your heart, a song for eternity. What is your song?
