Friday, April 2

how can i keep from singing?

"My life flows on in endless song:
Above earth's lamentation,
I catch the sweet, tho' far-off hymn
That hails a new creation.
Through all the tumult and the strife
I hear the music ringing;
It finds an echo in my soul--
How can I keep from singing? ...

...No storm can shake my inmost calm,
While to that refuge clinging;
Since Christ is Lord of heaven and earth,
How can I keep from singing? ...

I lift my eyes; the cloud grows thin;
I see the blue above it;
And day by day this pathway smooths,
Since first I learned to love it.
The peace of Christ makes fresh my heart,
A fountain ever springing;
All things are mine since I am his--
How can I keep from singing?"

tomorrow is general conference -

my absolute favorite time of the year!!
and through a series of little miracles,
i have been given the chance to
sing with the institute choir that will
be performing during saturday session!


i am so blessed - it has been an amazing experience! :)

music speaks to me in a way that almost nothing else does!

anyone who knows me knows that
i constantly sing to myself,
direct imaginary performers,
and play a wide range of air-instruments - lol!

i can hardly help it! -

you know that feeling, when the motion of the music just
resonates with something inside you?...
or when the sound of different instruments
melding together makes your heart explode a little?!...
and when lyrics finally bring a thought or feeling to life
that you hadn't ever put words to?!?...

this is why i live for music :)

most of my pivotal testemony-building moments
were a result of music and their message.

and you know, please forgive me if this sounds sacrilegous,
but i often feel closer to God when i sing
than when i pray :}
(that's why i'll often take a drive and sing out loud my concerns to Heavenly Father instead of sitting somewhere quietly...weird? maybe, but it's how He and i chat)

but you know, maybe it isn't so sacrilegous after all -
He himself said,

"the song of the righteous is a prayer unto me."
D&C 25:12

i know the Lord loves us
and that He'll teach us and show His love for us
in the ways that speak to us best -
be it music, words, math, sunsets, smells, people, or colors!
He knows us individually and
loves us individually!

and not only that -
we get to be TAUGHT individually this weekend
through his spirit
at conference!! :D

we are so blessed! -

"how can we keep from singing?!"

4 comments:

Amy said...

Emily, you're amazing. I'm so glad you get to sing in conference! Have a fantabulous time!

Ross & Amanda Goodman- but mostly Amanda :) said...

This is just one of the MANY things that makes us what my good friend Anne Shirley would call Kindred Spirits. I love this post. You are an amazing writer and an even better person! We will be watching for you tomorrow!

Beatriz said...

Ai, vc canta MUITO bem!!!!!!!! Eu SABIA que um dia te veria cantando na Conferência. PARABÉNS! Fiquei com os olhos cheios de lágrimas agora...

Unknown said...

I saw you on TV!