By Andrew Hartzler, assistant professor of accounting
This week’s theme: Dare to imagine God’s song!
This week’s Scriptures: Zephaniah 3:14-20 | Isaiah 12:2-6 | Philippians 4:4-7 | Luke 3:7-18
In general, human beings do not do well with the unknown or the unexplained. In today’s global society where all things are presumed to be explainable using our rational minds, we are particularly averse to unexplained phenomena. The existence of and interaction of God with our lives can oftentimes fall into this category of the unknown and unknowable. One of the most common reasons I have found for the rejection by humans of both the concept of God and the role of God in our lives is this tendency to be skeptical of the mystery and intangibility of God.
The theme for this week’s devotional is “Dare to Imagine God’s Song.” I believe that one interesting connection to the mystery of God is found in the intricate beauty of music. For believers and non-believers alike, those who feel close to God and those who doubt the existence of God, music stirs something inside human beings that is certainly mysterious.
I believe that within the design of our DNA is woven a connection between God’s spirit and ours, and music is one way that we become more acutely aware of that connection. I remember this past school year when I sat in the audience at my first in-person concert with the Goshen College Orchestra since pre-COVID, and they played a short Ukrainian ballad as their opening piece. The beauty of this piece was stunning. As the orchestra began to play, it felt as though rays of sunshine began to stream into the hall and I felt a sensation akin to a warm gentle breeze on my face. I was overcome with emotion and felt tears welling up in my eyes. I knew at that moment I was in the presence of God.
When we encounter the spirit of God in these ways, whether it is an experience with a beautiful piece of music, the loving embrace of a friend or family member, laughter shared in a moment of amusement, or the unexpected kindness of a stranger, we should welcome it with open arms. Embracing the mystery of these experiences increases the richness of our life’s journey. When we try to rationalize all of the possibilities, we stifle the irrationality and mystery of God’s Spirit at work among us. In my life, I have seen God as the source of all good, all beauty, all joy, and all the breathtaking elements of this life. So let us dare to imagine God’s song, and watch as its beautiful melody weaves a tapestry around us, drawing us closer to the mystery of God.