Choir lessons

They taught us a little trick when I was a child in the choir, and I have used it ever since. In order to hit the note you want to hit, you need to aim slightly above it. It really works. If you do not consciously do this, you tend to fall in the crack between high E and D sharp, just short of that sweet spot that divides the Maria Callases from the high school opera divas.

I am noticing a similar phenomenon in the spiritual life. Unless I keep straining upward all the time to greater faith, I do not keep even the level of faith I am at. Even as I think I am fine, the high water mark is imperceptibly inching down.

I was feeling blah today. I could think of many reasons to feel that way, but in truth I wasn't really thinking, just moving on autopilot. I was going to just give myself over to it, like a hundred thousand times before. It is a well worn rut; everybody does it. It would not have been sin exactly. I was not complaining, nor saying anything either good or bad.

But I went for the higher note. I said to the Lord, out loud, that I believe He loves me and I will see His goodness in the land of the living. The "out loud" part is very important, for some reason. Call it training wheels, if you will, until I get the hang of pushing back all the voices of mediocrity and low expectations. But I notice that the psalmists don't drop the habit of praising God with audible voice. There seems to be a supernatural kick to it; perhaps it releases extra grace from the throne. You might want to try it yourself when you're blah.

"I will bless the LORD at all times; his praise shall continually be in my mouth" (Psalm 34:1).

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