I owe to my first husband, Bill Jolly, both my love for and knowledge of music. He taught me over the years, though his own love for music, the soul transforming power of the medium. Ironically, during those years when he patiently exposed me to the music of the world in its various forms and means, I did not believe in the existence of the soul or of God or of anything beyond this life we live on earth. Only now, after ten years of being reaquainted with the Creator, do I have a grasp of the tie between music and God's revealing work. As I write this, I am listening to Josh Groban. His voice is a true gift from the Holy One, and I believe Josh has this understanding and appreciation for what he has been given. Gifts from God, of course, are often a tremendous responsibility as well as a blessing. Too many gifted musicians and singers do not comprehend the blessing and they see only the burden of responsibility. They are unable to handle the foibles of fame and fortune. Sadly, their gift destroys their promise. Kurt Cobain took his own life in the desperation that befalls many musical artists. Stevie Ray Vaughn was reunited with the Spirit prior to his tragic death, and he had come to the realization that his music was OF God and FROM God. Al Green learned from his own spiritual journey that the songs he had recorded prior to his ministry were not of the Devil or of evil origin . . . these songs, too, belonged to and originated from the Great Spirit.
For me, music is a medium that goes beyond art and beyond the written word, because it has the ability to involve us body and soul. We hear and feel the rhythm of the instrumentation, the melody, the human voice, the careful arrangement of recorded songs. There is a relationship between the physical being and the pulse of music. That relationship expresses itself in movement, in dance, in a communicative bridge among people. Music is, indeed, a universal language. But it is even more than this. It is transforming to the soul of humankind. God uses music to share Himself with us and to reach out to us. Music carries all the emotion of memory. It is evocative of our yearning for God. I cannot hear Josh Groban sing without feeling my soul praise God. I feel that my attempt to express this relationship is feeble, but anyone who has a love for music will understand. Music, like God, cannot be put into a box and limited. Music, like God, is nearly unfathomable.
