Singing

I've been told that I'm wise. I think that just means I'm curious about the Universe, and deeply committed to learning and understanding everything I can about myself and why I'm here. Like every other soul having a human experience, I am on a magical spiritual journey of endless Discovery. Laurel Singing, Sophia Rising is about sharing my journey, and the hope that my wisdom might be an inspiration to others. And so I have created this Blog.

I got the inspiration early this morning while reading my email, when someone shared their own blog website, and so I discovered this site where anyone can create a blog. I've been a journaler since 7th grade, but something about turning 50 has shifted my focus from the inner journey to the outward expression of who I am and where I am going. So I thought creating a blog might be fun. But I couldn't act on the idea immediately. Church intervened and I sing in the choir. It was an important day for my church, welcoming our brand new pastor, Sarah Campbell. I was delighted to discover that the title of her first official sermon this morning was "Singing Our Lives." How appropriate! I love Synchronicity! It has become a regular occurrence in my life. It tells me when I am "in tune" with the Universe around me. I had a former pastor who was often on a parallel wavelength with what was going on in my life. I would go to church and hear exactly what I needed to hear to comfort me during difficult times, or to give voice to thoughts that had been searching for expression, or to provide affirmation of some momentous decision. In Michael terms, such synchronicity would be called an "essence contact" experience. I can imagine my essence or soul collaborating with others behind the scenes of our conscious lives to provide these signposts for ourselves. I suspect the same thing will happen frequently with Sarah. I look forward to getting to know her.

Listening to Sarah's thoughts on singing, it all fit into the blog idea so well. We all have a song inside of us, and it's time for me to sing my song. From Sarah's sermon: "Why do we sing? It's how we bless our lives. Our whole lives, the brokenness and the holiness, the joy and the sorrow, all of it, not just some of it, but all of it....Singing our lives is different from living them. It doesn't enhance the sacredness, but it acknowledges the sacredness. When we sing about grief, or longing, or hope, or joy, we become aware of the wonder and mysteriousness of our lives. Singing our lives is blessing our lives....There is power in the song."

I have been a singer as long as I can remember. There used to be a recording of me at about age 3, made secretly outside the bedroom door, singing when I was supposed to be taking a nap. I've been in choirs regularly since age 7. I majored in music in college, though not in voice. I didn't have the self-assurance to be a soloist. About 12 years ago I had a reading with a psychic who said "You're a singer, and you're going to discover that you have a voice." She was right. I began daring myself to sing solos in church. Five years ago I went with a choir to Wales, the land of my heart and soul, and I sang a solo in Welsh, and I am told that an elderly woman in a wheelchair was moved to tears. There is power in the song....

So here is my song -- the unfolding of my spiritual journey, past, present and future. I am daring myself to put it out to the world: this is who I am. May the singing of my life and the wisdom rising from my soul find resonance.

My life goes on in endless song,
above earth's lamentations.
I hear the real, though far-off hymn,
that hails a new creation.
Through all the tumult and the strife,
I hear its music ringing.
It sounds an echo in my soul,
how can I keep from singing?

But though the tempest loudly roars,
I hear the truth it liveth.
And though the darkness round me close,
songs in the night it giveth.
No storm can shake my inmost calm,
while to the rock I'm clinging,
Since Love is Lord of heaven and earth,
how can I keep from singing?