Dear Friends,

Throughout this difficulty, we can strengthen our “resilient muscles” by incorporating,

Resilient Response #4 and #5: Let Music Uplift and Books Inspire You!

MUSIC

Most of us saw on the news the Italians singing from their balconies in the midst of their cities coming under seige by COVID 19. How uplifting it is to hear singing in the battle – and how unusual. For those of you who don’t know, the Bible is resplendent with stories where the worshippers went on ahead of the soldiers into battle. 2 Chronicles 20:21 states, “After consulting the people, the king appointed singers to walk ahead of the army, singing to the LORD and praising him for his holy splendor. This is what they sang: “Give thanks to the LORD; for his mercy endures forever!”

How counter-intuitive it feels for us to sing in such a time, and yet something happens within us, a shift, when we start. Proverbs tells us, “A merry heart does good like medicine.” When I rise in the morning, I am choosing music as my first line of defense. It isn’t always “worship and praise” music (though that is often on throughout our day), but a variety of music. During the quarantine my heart has been made merry by a journey down memory lane.

Growing up my Mom used to stack her 33 LP records on the phonograph inside the big TV console. Her favorites were Rodgers & Hammerstein musicals (Carousel, Oklahoma, Sound of Music, The King and I, Showboat, South Pacific) and they soon became mine. Today, it’s finding those albums on my Sonos App and playing them on the bedroom and kitchen speakers (shout out to my kids for bringing me up to date on streaming services). I can’t forget to mention my love for Seven Brides for Seven Brothers either. Music and dance were a big part of my childhood. I was dancing and singing on stage by age six. I landed roles in my junior high and high school musicals (Godspell, Annie Get Your Gun, My Fair Lady) and for those of you around my age, I shared the stage with Pernell Roberts (yup Adam Cartwright from Bonanza) in The Music Man. He played Professor Harold Hill and I was not only cast in the chorus but was one of the six dancers in the library and Shipoopi scenes. I was quite in love, at age 16, when Pernell sashayed with me across the stage.

I’ve been listening to other musicals too: Andrew Lloyd Weber and Disney. Yesterday I received a text from a friend in OH who sent me a youtube link to a song and a group I had never heard of. It filled me with such joy that I synced it to the living room TV to play for Lew. I had the volume up and proceeded to roll over to a section of our living room that allowed me to freely express myself. After several figure eights and 360 spins, I opened my eyes to find Lew. He had got up from his chair and came over to me extending his hand. We danced. Holding my right, and then left hand, we executed more spins, turns and moves, forward and back, all while singing loudly. The next thing I knew, Winchester our galoot, had landed her front half on top of my lap licking my face with a, “me too, me too” that added doggie attention laughter to our joy.

What a lovely repreive in the midst of the battle.

Here’s the link that set my soul dancing.

 

READING

After you’ve been uplifted by some soul stirring music, what about the inspiration of a good book? Pick up that novel you’ve always wanted to read, or start a series. I personally still like the feel, smell and touch of a book in my hands so early on before we were really quarantined I shopped to support our local businesses and picked up several books from the Peregine Bookstore. At that time, I could shop online, pay over the phone and use curbside delivery service. Our public library has closed but are still loaning digital books. And of course you know For A BIGGER DOSE OF RESILIENCE and a way to help, I am discounting my book and Inspirational Cards by 10% and sending additional dollars to Yavapai Regional Medical Center’s Area of Greatest Need Fund. Let me know if you want a copy and how I can get it to you.

Music and books temporarily take us out of this world and into a magical world. Folks, at this time, that’s a very good thing. I’d love to hear from you. What are you listening to; and what are you reading?

Before I close, I wanted to share a few more links that have been both informational and inspirational.

Bill Gates 2015 Ted Talk

Followed by his recent March 2020 Interview

 

From the Christian Worldview is Dr. David Jeremiah: Is the Coronavirus in Bible prophecy?

 

“Yet there is one ray of hope: his compassion never ends. It is only the Lord’s mercies that have kept us from complete destruction.Great is his faithfulness; his loving-kindness begins afresh each day.” Lam. 3:22-23

As always, praying you find a new mercy today and everyday,

Nannette