I'm very grateful for the songs we were able to sing yesterday as they helped bring strength and comfort following a very sad event that happened to my brother Hyrum, his wife Jenna, and their two boys, Will and Sam. We were informed Friday that Jenna's pregnancy had ended after only six months. Little June Kathleen Pitt was delivered stillborn, leaving behind a sad family that was so eager to bring her home and shower her will all the love and happiness inside them. Instead, June went straight back to her loving Heavenly Father and Mother who had other plans for her.
The good news, is that Hyrum and Jenna can do just what we sang about yesterday. Typically when the Choir sings this favorite song of mine, I think about my own life and what the words mean to me. But yesterday, as we sang "Standing on the Promises", I thought of my brother and his wife and how they are, with faith, standing on the promise that June isn't really lost to them. She's a part of their eternal family. And they'll get to see her and love her and raise her one day.
One of the other songs "I Will Follow God's Plan for Me" made me think about trusting God and holding fast to His word and His love--how times of grief and unanswerable questions can be overcome by faith in God's plan.
Another of the songs, "The Ground" is one that the composer wrote for a work entitled "Sunrise Mass". From his words: "it’s called The Ground because I wanted to convey a sense of having ‘arrived’ at the end of the Mass; to have reached a kind of peace and grounded strength, after the long journey of the Mass, having gone through so many different emotional landscapes." I couldn't help but think of the emotional journey that those who have lost one ones have to go through, and how they can arrive at a peace and grounded strength as they rely upon God for strength.
The last song we sang was a fitting tribute to June and her family. "May the Good Lord Bless You and Keep You" has these words:
May the good Lord bless and keep you whether near or far away
May you find that long awaited golden day today
May your troubles all be small ones and your fortunes ten times ten
May the good Lord bless and keep you till we meet again
I'm sure that Mack and Ryan had no idea how perfectly these songs would fit together for a family who was grieving this weekend. But I'm thankful they were inspired to add them to the program, and I'm grateful for a Heavenly Father who hears and answers prayers, and brings comfort and peace in a variety of ways--including inspired music.
Until next time, God be with you.
Monday, March 27, 2017
Sunday, March 19, 2017
MTC #168 - Home
Usually about once a year, the BYU Singers join us for Music & the Spoken Word--and today happened to be that day. We were grateful to have them, and delighted in the opportunity to hear their beautiful voices. We were also grateful
to be directed by Dr. Andrew Crane for one of the songs on the program. Dr. Crane is the director of the BYU Singers and has also performed with the Choir on occasion. I thought it was fascinating to see him come to the podium and start rehearsing the song--giving necessary feedback, correction, and compliments, just as Mack Wilberg would--appearing to be perfectly comfortable and completely in his element. I suppose that it what talent, experience, and confidence will do for you! I wouldn't fault a guest conductor for being just a little bit nervous in directing over 400 singers, but with Dr. Crane, it wasn't even an issue.
Impressive.
As an aside, a friend of mine mentioned how seeing the BYU Singers took him back to his college years. And I had to agree. Along with all of the wonderful memories of singing at BYU, however, came the fact that I'm in my 40s are am not in that time of life anymore. I used to go back to campus periodically, not too long after I graduated, and felt like I still fit right in. But that definitely is not the case any longer. Those years were filled with ups and downs and have their place in my personal history. And the memories of singing were some of my best memories. But that time was then, and now is now, and I'm glad that now is now. :)
My favorite song on the broadcast today was called "Softly and Tenderly"--a song that talks a lot about HOME. The song's chorus says
Come home, come home,
You who are weary, come home;
Earnestly, tenderly, Jesus is calling,
Calling, O sinner, come home!
I think we can all relate to how good it feels to come home after a long, hard day. Or maybe we've been away on a trip or visiting family or involved in some other event, and at some point we just long to be home again. My favorite times are when my wife and I get to have all of our kids home at one time,
enjoying each others' company and participating in conversation and shared experiences. The same feelings come about when I allow my Savior to be a part of my life. I come home to Him through doing things he's asked me to do. I come home by being the type of person He wants me to be. Coming home to appreciate his sacrifice and live his teachings allow me to feel peace. And I'm grateful for that.
After the broadcast ended today, we had some surprise visitors (and former guest artists) come to the stage and say hello to us. John Rhys-Davies said a few words (he's in town for Comic Con I think) and David Archuleta also said a few words. Both were very kind in expressing how much they love the choir and the warmth they feel when they hear us sing. It was good to see them and to hear their words.
Until next time, God be with you.
Impressive.
As an aside, a friend of mine mentioned how seeing the BYU Singers took him back to his college years. And I had to agree. Along with all of the wonderful memories of singing at BYU, however, came the fact that I'm in my 40s are am not in that time of life anymore. I used to go back to campus periodically, not too long after I graduated, and felt like I still fit right in. But that definitely is not the case any longer. Those years were filled with ups and downs and have their place in my personal history. And the memories of singing were some of my best memories. But that time was then, and now is now, and I'm glad that now is now. :)
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| From my BYU days. These were two fellow friends & basses |
My favorite song on the broadcast today was called "Softly and Tenderly"--a song that talks a lot about HOME. The song's chorus says
Come home, come home,
You who are weary, come home;
Earnestly, tenderly, Jesus is calling,
Calling, O sinner, come home!
I think we can all relate to how good it feels to come home after a long, hard day. Or maybe we've been away on a trip or visiting family or involved in some other event, and at some point we just long to be home again. My favorite times are when my wife and I get to have all of our kids home at one time,
After the broadcast ended today, we had some surprise visitors (and former guest artists) come to the stage and say hello to us. John Rhys-Davies said a few words (he's in town for Comic Con I think) and David Archuleta also said a few words. Both were very kind in expressing how much they love the choir and the warmth they feel when they hear us sing. It was good to see them and to hear their words.
Until next time, God be with you.
 |
| BYU Singers from today's broadcast |
Sunday, March 12, 2017
MTC #167 - Variety
While rehearsing for the broadcast this morning, a friend leaned over to me and asked "Do you have a favorite [song] today?" I stopped to think about which of the five pieces we were singing was my favorite, and I had to conclude that I really didn't like any one of them more than the other. All of them were good songs with good messages and unique styles. A German hymn tune which reminded me of Christmas, a sweet love song from the movie BAMBI, a baroque piece by Bach, a spiritual about trials (featuring Alex Boye) and a spiritual about forsaking war and doing significant spiritual things "down by the riverside." It doesn't get much more diverse than that.
It got me thinking about the variety of people and experiences I get to enjoy in my life and how God intended for us to be impacted and influenced by this variety. Each person in our lives has a part to play, big or small, in how we learn and grow. Each experience brings opportunities for growth as well, and gives us perspective and hope. I'm thankful for a Heavenly Father who provides all of these experiences and relationships and grateful for a divine learning process that, while not always understood or agreed with, is exactly what I need.
Until next time, God be with you.
It got me thinking about the variety of people and experiences I get to enjoy in my life and how God intended for us to be impacted and influenced by this variety. Each person in our lives has a part to play, big or small, in how we learn and grow. Each experience brings opportunities for growth as well, and gives us perspective and hope. I'm thankful for a Heavenly Father who provides all of these experiences and relationships and grateful for a divine learning process that, while not always understood or agreed with, is exactly what I need.
Until next time, God be with you.
 |
| Singing Down by the Riverside |
Sunday, March 5, 2017
MTC #166 - Tasting the Fruits
I'm grateful that death is not the end of our journey, but it's sure sad to hear about those leaving this mortal life. This past week, I read about the small plane accident claiming the lives of a father and his two children (leaving behind a pregnant wife); I heard from a friend of the passing of his father; and then I heard from another friend of the passing of his friend, 44, from a battle with cancer.
At choir today, there were two little things that stood out to me in relation to making the best of our time here on earth. One was something Mack said during rehearsal. There was a section of the orchestra that had a few moments to shine and he said something to the effect of "You better take advantage of these four measures as you don't have moments like these very often." Then, during one of the songs we were singing by John Rutter ("Look to the Day"), one of the phrases stood out to me: "Taking the time to enjoy each moment, tasting the fruits spread along your way."
Life is short and we never know, exactly, what's in store for us tomorrow, next week, next month, or next year. So as I thought about all of the deaths recently, I was grateful for my life. Grateful the I was able to enjoy this day--singing, being with family and friends, feeling the warmth of the sun, and the breeze on my face. Each day seems like it's so full of ups and downs, trials and small joys. But I hope I can take the four measures allotted unto me and make the best of them. There are lots of moments to be enjoyed and people to love.
Until next time, God be with you.
At choir today, there were two little things that stood out to me in relation to making the best of our time here on earth. One was something Mack said during rehearsal. There was a section of the orchestra that had a few moments to shine and he said something to the effect of "You better take advantage of these four measures as you don't have moments like these very often." Then, during one of the songs we were singing by John Rutter ("Look to the Day"), one of the phrases stood out to me: "Taking the time to enjoy each moment, tasting the fruits spread along your way."
Life is short and we never know, exactly, what's in store for us tomorrow, next week, next month, or next year. So as I thought about all of the deaths recently, I was grateful for my life. Grateful the I was able to enjoy this day--singing, being with family and friends, feeling the warmth of the sun, and the breeze on my face. Each day seems like it's so full of ups and downs, trials and small joys. But I hope I can take the four measures allotted unto me and make the best of them. There are lots of moments to be enjoyed and people to love.
Until next time, God be with you.
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