Ode to Omnipresence
The lord is my strength and shield; my heart trusted in Him, and I am helped; Therefore my heart greatly rejoices, and with my song I will praise Him. (Psalm 28:7)
Before this year I disrespected the value of music. Not expressed in outright disapproval or jeremiad format, but in that I did not appreciate it enough. I had a few religious tracks that I would put spins on, but the vast majority of my songs covered issues from a secular perspective. This is not wrong, but it is good to praise the lord through music. I don't mean that in the wishy washy "hi how are you good", way that the term is thrown around. I mean good in the definitional sense. A judgement of character. That which leans in the direction of God.
Through the sermons at Virgin Mary's Ethiopian Orthodox Church, and my increased fellowship with Christians I have learned the worth of praise in music. Music is a form of communicating. This communication is often directed towards a human audience, but nothing necessitates this. Hymns are beautiful in many ways. One of these facets is the inclusion of God in the audience. To communicate with God is to pray. Singing hymns is praying.
There is not enough prayer, kneeling, bowing, oblation, supplication or praising that would ever be sufficient for the lord God. Our creator is an eternal person. Any thanksgiving I send to the anointed one is necessarily finite. Necessarily limited. Insufficient. The Holy Spirit permits my praise in the knowledge that I will never be able to do enough. This is grace. This is mercy.
That being said there are quick tips that I have collected to maximize our time in prayer.
When walking alone, pray
When having trouble sleeping, pray
When heating up food in the microwave, pray
When youtube is loading, pray
When in line at the DMV, pray
When getting prodded along by the TSA, pray
When jogging, pray
If you have the free time, join a choir, so that you can pray
Now that you are fully armed with an arsenal of prayers, I will attempt to open your eyes to the blessings of the world that most stay blind to.
A few weeks ago the adult English Sunday School discussed vocations. A job is a job. You do work, and you get paid for it. Some love it, some do not. A career is that job which you seek permanency in. More perennial than a job or career is one's vocation. One's vocation is the work that one is willing to do regardless of pay. The work one does because the passion is there. There could be career doctors and lawyers, but if their full heart is not in it, then it is not a vocation. Christians are guided by their worship of the Holy Spirit. He guides the division of labor by elucidating the different talents that individuals have. There are singers, dancers, writers, architects, healers and much much more. Finding your talent and honing it is a proper way of praising the lord for the gifts he has bestowed upon you. Become passionate about a honed talent, and you have found your vocation. The work you can do for God, and feel jubilant doing so.
For me that is writing. And a tad bit of educating.
The adults in the English class were surprised that their interests could serve God. They were under the impression that there are two worlds. Holy world where you go to church, and prostrate before the lord. Secular world where you do the fun stuff. Your hobbies and interests. I illustrated the fusion, tewahihdo-ness, of these supposedly separate worlds. Our God is an omnipresent God. All present. Everywhere. In this regard, it is critical that we learn to seek God in places that we normally would not.
Go time. I find God in club bangers. Phew, there I said it. Calvin Harris has a track, featuring Ne-Yo, entitled Let's Go. There are literary critics who claim author's intent means nothing in interpreting artwork. I disagree. However, the actions taken in the production of artwork and the product thereof outweighs the intent of the artist. Both intent and final product have a role, but the final product takes precedence. I have an idea of where Mr. Harris is going in his thought process of singing Let's Go, but that discussion is for another place and time. Find me and we will talk.
God's omnipresence calls for us to live in the present. Yes he was in the past during our sins, trespasses and transgressions. Our debt is great. His forgiveness is greater. Amlak talaq newih.* Mr. Harris's song Let's Go is an ode to the present. The beat makes me delighted, and I use the words for worship. We worship God, repent and believe the gospel because
the time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand. (Mark 1:15)
Whether he intended on doing so or not Mr. Harris has praised the lord. Christ's redemption has blessed us with the present. It would be recalcitrant to read Mr. Harris's lyrics and believe otherwise.
Let's go! Make no excuses now, I'm talking here and now, I'm talking here and now, Let's go! Your time is running out, I'm talking here and now, I'm talking here and now, It's not about what you've done, It's about what you doing, It's all about where you going, No matter where you've been, Let's go! Let's go! Let's go! Let's go! Let's go! There is no better time, I'm talking here and now, I'm talking here and now, Let's go! Right now is where you shine, I'm talking here and now, I'm talking here and now, chorus again, Let's make it happen, Ooh let's make it happen tonight (repeat 3x), Let's go (repeat 3x)
The scripture is clear on odes to omnipresence. Be glad and enjoy your prayers to God.
Shout joyfully to the Lord, all the earth; Break forth in song, rejoice and sing praises. (Psalm 98:4)
Post Scriptum:
*God is greater