Fountains of Life

Tension and Release

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By Cyndi

I love playing music, it brings me such joy. Especially playing in a group, where each person brings their own creativity into the mix. For me, one of the coolest things about music is its emotionality — the ability to swell with emotions, rising and falling.

This “emotionalism” (I will call it) is really just building tension musically and releasing it. Every type of music has it. From Aerosmith’s Dream On with Steven Tyler screaming those words over and over intensifying until finally hitting the chorus, to Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony’s intro with “Da-Da-Da-Daaaa/ Da-Da-Da-Daaaa,” you can feel the tension grow then mellow out. Even the hymn, Amazing Grace, has a wonderful marriage of words-to-melody in this mounting up/relaxing down with the phrasing: “I once was lost, but now I’m found; was blind, but now I see” — a delicate lifting, then gently settling down. This development of tension and release is one of the keys to good music.

And it’s also a key with life. There are times in our life where things are tensing up — stress, maybe fears, those things that get our adrenaline pumping up — which can be exciting, with a period of rising, amping up.  But it eventually we must let loose of all that tension and return to a time of peace and stability. (Ps. 46:10)

During our worship band rehearsal the other night this concept was pointed out by our sound man. Sometimes we have a propensity to “overplay,” or play as loud and strong as you can. We were excited. It was a great song and we were so spiritually heightened we just wanted to slam it with all our hearts! This exemplifies staying on the building/tension side of the swell the whole time; climbing up and up the mountain but never reaching the summit. Pushing hard. That’s not really very musical, nor sustainable. And that’s not life either. 

Life cannot stay intense and full-bore all the time. If we do, we’ll probably have high blood pressure or a heart attack. Times of rest and relaxation are much needed to balance things out. (Matt. 11:28, 29) We eventually have to round the summit of the mountain and come back down the other side. Weekends with family, vacations, or simply quiet times help us keep the “music” of our lives enjoyable. There’s work and there’s play. Both are necessary.

I believe if we think of our lives like a song it could help us. There are verses, choruses, and bridges (which are neither the verse nor chorus but add a little something extra just because!). Each section has its timing, its part and purpose in the whole song. Sometimes there’s a rising, other times there’s a releasing. 

So as the music of our lives play, I hope we can intensify when we need to — press in and “build,” — yet also surrender and refrain when it’s time to do that too. Personally, I want to play invigorating yet sweet encouraging music with my Heavenly Father — the kind that others would want to listen to and enjoy. (Eph. 5:19) Let the music play.

Muscles and Strings

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By Cyndi

Between the grunts and groans while stretching during an exercise class, a friend and I began noticing the similarities between guitar strings and muscles. And of course, with me, God has a way of taking daily activities — like exercising — and teaching me a lesson through them.

Do you realize that muscles and strings have something in common? Their level of performance depends on how tight or loose they are. There’s a balance for being toned or tuned, respectively.

Each string on a guitar is to be a specific note. When a string is too tight, it’s not in tune. The pitch sounds too high so we say it is “sharp.” When the string is too loose, it’s not in tune either. The pitch is too low so it is called “flat.” 

The term “sharp” sometimes is used to describe things as being harsh, cutting, abrupt, or brash. Many of us tend to get sharp when we’re stressed or upset; we tighten up or say sarcastic words. That’s why we use expressions like “uptight” or “edgy/on the edge.” 

The word “flat” may be used to describe dull, lifeless, plain, or ‘off key’ things. For example, we tend to get flat when we’re uninterested or unconcerned about something; or how carbonated drinks loose their fizz if left out too long. In the case of a guitar string, if the instrument is not played often enough the strings go flat from disuse. Similarly, our muscles go flat if we don’t exercise them.

So what do we do when our muscles tighten up and we feel stiff? We stretch! This helps loosen them up. And when our muscles are flabby (another way to say flat!) what do we do? We exercise to tone them up!

And the God lesson in of all of this?

God wants us to be in tune — in perfect pitch and in harmony with Him— and in shape, toned up, ready for whatever He asks us to do. Not too tight, not too loose.

I picture myself as that string with His fingers on the guitar’s tuning pegs turning one way then the other little by little listening to the pitch, changing it ever so slightly until it’s perfect. Or lying prone on a floor mat in a gym, God in His trainer polo shirt stretching my legs a little, loosening me up. His workout routines can be a bit strenuous at times, making me exercise my faith like dumbbells when I’ve been a bit complacent or apathetic. 

And so whether it’s tightening or loosening — stretching our faith or resting in His love — this process brings us closer to Him. I believe Father God wants to have a healthy and harmonious relationship with us — flowing in His love wherever we are.

My Father’s Imprint

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By Cyndi

One of the pleasures of living here in Manila is listening to all the wonderful Filipino musical symbols 1musicians. The mall close to where we live constantly has a pianist or a combo playing in the center of the food court. It’s very enjoyable to have live music as you eat or shop, and I constantly find myself taken back in time through so many of the songs I hear them play. They play the same music and the same style my father used to play when I was growing up.

My father was mostly a self-taught piano player, except for some lessons from his aunt and a few from a cocktail pianist. It is from the latter that my father acquired the style of fancy frills, runs, and “showmanship” that he had. He had a way of making any song sound great. These made such imprints in my life.

I lost my father to colon cancer in 1994. He was a great dad — not perfect, but pretty close, and I loved him dearly. He gave me such a love for all kinds music. We were exposed to classical, folk, pop, jazz, a little bit of everything. And he always kept his “greatest hits” songbooks of the 60s and 70s on the piano to go through after supper each night. Everything from Peter, Paul and Mary or Glen Campbell to Barry Manilow or Elton John.

So as I was in the mall the other day and heard The Windmills of Your Mind begin (does anyone else know this song besides me?) then a few measures of the bossa-nova piece My Little Boat by Antonio Jobim, I got to thinking about my father’s imprint on me. He left a strong musical imprint on me. Then I thought, we all have some type of imprints from our fathers, some good, some bad. But as it’s close to Father’s Day, I’d just like to ask you take a moment and try to remember at least one positive imprint from your dad (or another father figure in your life).

Memories from trips, experiences, gifts, stories, etc, make imprints on us. Whether it’s holding a crab, building model rockets, going to the fair, or riding Space Mountain — all of these things can make a deep impression on us whether we realize it or not. They affect our lives. Fathers do that — they mark us. Part of them is in us.

Though it’s been a bit emotional, I’m truly enjoying “hearing my dad” play through these mall musicians. He’s not here with me on this earth any more, but his impression of music is still upon me. A father’s love was given to me and I want to encourage you to look at the effect the father figures in your life have made in you. How have you been impacted?

May the fathering spirit from Father God be upon you and may you receive it and imprint it upon others every day.