MTC #193 - It Isn't Fair, But it is Well

Life isn't fair. Sometimes it's rather easy to get upset at God who clearly could alleviate suffering, right the wrongs, and make things fair. And I admit, that I have had such times when I have been angry. Logically, it doesn't make sense to get mad at a Heavenly Father who gives so many blessings and, at the very very least, reaches out and is willing and wanting to help us through our trials. But when you're going through pain, it's human nature to be mad at someone. Particularly Someone who could step in and take the pain away.

As we sang It Is Well With My Soul, today, I thought about this paradox we all have to live with: it's only through pain and challenges and suffering that we can grow, become more empathetic, and more humble. All of these hard things, if accepted the right way, can make us better. They can be "well with [our] soul[s]". I don't know why it had to be that way, but it is that way, and in the end, I am grateful for a God who has blessed me with so much. While the thorns remain, at least I have the blessings to fall back on, and my faith that one day, everything will be made right.


Whatever my lot, thou hast taught me to say
It is well, it is well, with my soul

I invite you to listen to this song today. Musically, it has all of the grandeur of other Mack Wilberg "big and powerful" arrangements. But more importantly, it can help remind you that if you're striving to do what's right, then everything that follows is, indeed, well with your soul. Somehow.

Until next time, God be with you. 

Singing It Is Well With My Soul today, 9-10-17.

MTC #192 - The White Coat

The choir members who know me, know that my least favorite suit coat to wear is the white one. I cringe every time I arrive at the Conference Center and realize that I have to wear it.  

The funny thing is, there are a lot of people (both in and out of the choir) who actually like the white coat. Even this afternoon when I walked into church, the usher game me a smile and said, "You all looked so great in your white coats today!" I smiled back, of course, but couldn't quite agree with his assessment. 

It got me thinking, though, that everyone is different. People like different things and have their own opinions of what tastes good, what sounds good, and what looks good. And just because those opinions may not match up with mine sometimes, that's OK. There's plenty of room for varying opinions--which, at the very least--should be respected. 

When I was little, one of my favorite story books, according to my mother, was one titled "How Joe the Bear and Sam the Mouse Got Together." When Joe and Sam first met, they quickly discovered that while they had the same goals and generally enjoyed doing the same things, there were plenty of differences. Joe liked a big house, Sam liked a little one. Joe liked to play football, while Sam liked baseball. Joe liked to ride a bike slowly, while Sam liked to ride his fast. Given all these differences, they were about to part ways. But then they passed an ice cream shop and came to realize that there was one thing they could agree on: they both loved all sorts of ice cream! The book ends with Joe and Sam doing their own thing most of the time. But everyday, at 3:00, they would come to the ice cream parlor and enjoy ice cream together.


While the white coat is not my favorite, there are plenty of other people watching the choir, who love it. And I should just be grateful (and I am) that I get to wear the coat in the first place! Because each Sunday, at 9:30, audience members from around the world and performers from all walks of life, have the great opportunity to put aside other things in their lives and simply enjoy beautiful music, together. 

And what a great thing that is.

Until next time, God be with you.

MTC #191 - Children of a King

Days after entering the MTC as a young 19-yr old missionary, the realization of what I had gotten myself into hit me in a way that I had never before experienced. The weight of learning the Japanese language, of living in Japan, and being away from family and friends was almost more than I could bear. 

As we attended various devotionals and meetings designed to both educate and inspire us as missionaries, I was hoping and praying to feel a feeling that I could rise above my discouragement and accomplish this great thing. But instead, I just felt more overwhelmed at my inadequacies and limitations. One night though, we all filed into a very large room where a general authority was prepared to address us. The opening song was, no surprise, Called to Serve. As I had sung that song many times before, I didn't think it would contain the answer to my prayer. But thankfully, it did.

While we were singing, we came to the lyric "sons and daughters, children of a King". And as I sang that, an undeniable feeling of hope, love, and confidence just swept over me. The thought then came to my head "You can do this Ryan. You are the son of a King who loves you." How grateful I was for that experience which not only helped me then, but helped me throughout my mission, and still helps me today.

This morning, as we sang Called to Serve, my mind and heart went back to that night in the MTC, and I felt those feelings all over again. How thankful I am that we have a Heavenly Father who loves us and can help us get through hard things. 

Until next time, God be with you.

From today's Music & the Spoken Word broadcast, 8/27/17

 

MTC #190 - People

I don't get a lot of face-to-face human interaction outside my home (aside from my beloved family, of course). The main reason for that is because I actually work from home, full-time. There used to be an IBM office in Salt Lake City that I'd drive to, and work from, once a week, just for an opportunity to get out and see other people. But that office was shut down earlier this year. 

Church doesn't help, either. My ward alternates between meeting at 9am one year, and 1pm the next. So on the years it meets at 9, I don't get to go (which is this year), since I'm busy fulfilling my Choir responsibilities.

I do, occasionally, go to the store, or drive to a "kid event", and see people then. But it's typically a quick "Hello! How are you?" followed by a 15-30 second response. 

All of this sometimes makes me feel socially starved. 

I therefore savor my times when I do get to interact face-to-face, and right now, I have the Choir to thank for those times. There actually isn't a lot of time to socialize at choir. But the few conversations on the ride to Salt Lake, or before rehearsals, or during breaks, and after performances, are conversations and interactions that I cherish.

So thanks, Choir--for each of you individually--who help to alleviate my starvation reality. 

One of the things I look most forward to, after this life is over and we've moved onto the next, is to rekindle relationships I've had with people in this life, and with people that I got to know during the pre-mortal life. If we truly lived for thousands of years (know one knows exactly how long) before this earth life, just think about how many people you interacted with and how many conversations you had with them! It's astounding, really. 

Humans are just social creatures. Regardless of where you are at on the shy or outgoing scale, deep down, we all need love and at least some attention from others. I'm therefore thankful for all of those people in my life who provide that for me.  I hope we can all strive to love, and let others love us. 

Until next time, God be with you.

MTC #189 - Abide With Me

'Twas a fairly standard week for the Mormon Tabernacle Choir. Those actually don't happen very often, so we enjoy them when we get them. 

A few things I wanted to mention. . .

First, we were released from rehearsal about 20 min early on Thursday for our annual ice cream social. Nothing too grandiose, but it's nice to take opportunities to be social with choir members instead of always singing with them. So many people to get to know. And, of course, who would ever want to pass up free ice cream?

Second, our director Mack Wilberg debuted an original piece today on Music & the Spoken Word. It was titled "The Tree of Life". While it's not my favorite by him, I still enjoyed singing it and particularly liked the words as they likened our life's journey to going through Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter.

Third, my favorite piece today was one performed by The Bells on Temple Square. With beautiful accompaniment by the orchestra, their rendition of Abide With Me was so, so pretty. You can take a few minutes to listen to it HERE.

Lastly, the choir is getting very eager to learn where they'll be going on tour next year. The East Coast tour of 2015 was announced in April of 2014. And the European tour of 2016 was announced in July of 2015. So, you can see that since it's now August, we're expecting it to come any day now. We have been given one hint as to whether it will be somewhere in the US, or somewhere outside the US (or a combination of both), but I can't comment on that until such things are officially shared by the Choir organization. At any rate, we're thinking the destination will be announced fairly soon.

Until next time, God be with you.

MTC #188 - Another "One" Story

After Music & the Spoken Word was over this morning, President Jarrett came up on stage, followed by several other people who stood and faced the choir. With some emotion, Pres. Jarrett then told us that back in 2007, when the choir was on tour, it gave a "concert for one" at a hospital in Memphis, Tennessee. The "one" was a woman who had just been diagnosed with cancer and was going through her second round of chemotherapy. She and her family were understandably devastated at the realities of cancer and the potential for a shortened life. 

That woman was one of the ones standing on stage, and as she took the microphone, she told us how thankful she was for what the choir had done for her so many years ago. She is now cancer-free. And as she thought back to one of the darkest periods of life, she is grateful that music of the choir played a role in securing hope and faith that chemo would work and she'd be able to get through the trials she faced. Her husband, and parents, also on stage, were grateful as well. 

I was not with the Choir in 2007, but I'm grateful to belong to an organization of 700+ people who recognize the worth of "the one". Week in and week out, we hope that "the one" is reached by our music and message, and whoever that person is, he or she finds the hope and strength to carry on, and the peace that comes from a Father in Heaven who loves each one of His children.

Until next time, God be with you.

MTC #187 - Collin

Since this past week with the choir could be labeled "business as usual", I just want to take the opportunity to briefly post about someone who really impresses me. His name is Collin. He's not a member of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, or even a member of the Orchestra at Temple Square or Bells on Temple Square. Rather, he's a member of the stage crew. And a unique one, at that.

The Choir and Orchestra, and everyone else involved with the "choir family" relies on the stage crew A LOT. They have a big job--a rather heavy job--as some might say. Each week there are chairs and stands and microphones to put out and take down. They make sure the podium is adjusted correctly. They make sure safety barriers line the stage to keep us all from accidentally falling off. They also wheel the piano in and back. And when the Bells join us, their job multiplies at least three fold as there are mats to lay out, tables to put up, and table clothes to spread. And, I can guarantee they do much more than I can visibly see or describe since a lot of their work is backstage. 

So what makes Collin unique? Aside from probably being the youngest stage crew member, he has one hand that doesn't quite function fully. So much of the help he provides, he does so with one hand. 

If you stop and think about that a moment, you'll realize what courage and faith that must take. Carrying this, putting up that, adjusting this, unfolding that. You'd think a major prerequisite to performing stage crew work would be the use of both arms and hands. But Collin pulls it off with just one--and does a fantastic job at it. I see him there nearly every Sunday, serving along side the rest of our great stage crew. And often I think, if Collin can do what he does, certainly I can do the things in my life that I feel unqualified, at times, to do. 

So thanks Collin. I've never talked to you and I'm sure you don't know me. But I sincerely appreciate your example of faith and devotion. Keep up the good work!

Until next time, God be with you.