Sing Anyway... With Intention

Gratitude Year 12- Day 171: Today, I am grateful we can sing when singing isn't prescribed.  

"I believe in kindness.

Also in mischief.

Also in in singing, 

especially when singing is not necessarily prescribed." -Mary Oliver

What a fun quote and a great nugget of wisdom is included. There are times when singing is the polite thing to do. It is expected. It opens our souls. 

There are times when singing is the last thing people around us expect. Sing anyway! Make a joyful noise. 

I wonder how many songs we have excerpts from memorized in our brains? There are more than we think. Do you ever hear a song you have not heard in decades and the words all come back to you as you sing along with the radio? Most of us have been surprised by how deeply songs and lyrics are etched on our hearts. They are there for our celebrations and in our times of sorrow. 

One of my favorite examples of unexpected singing comes from the Bible. Paul and Silas are in jail. They do not know what will be next. It could be a trial. It could be a beating. It might be death. They had come to terms with the uncertainty of their days and they chose to sing! I love those guys!!! 

"Around midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening. 26 Suddenly, there was a massive earthquake, and the prison was shaken to its foundations. All the doors immediately flew open, and the chains of every prisoner fell off! The jailer woke up to see the prison doors wide open. He assumed the prisoners had escaped, so he drew his sword to kill himself. But Paul shouted to him, “Stop! Don’t kill yourself! We are all here!” -Acts 16:25-28

They did not run. They did not hide. They lived every single day with intention and purpose. They chose to sing in unexpected places. 

Today, I am grateful we can sing when singing isn't prescribed.