Ed, my neighbor next door, generously uses two, and only two, spices on his food - salt and pepper. By the time Ed is done seasoning his food, it is covered in a black and white layer visible across the room. Don't pass Ed the ketchup or the mustard! He never uses horseradish or a squeeze of lemon. His Chinese food has never been touched with soya sauce or plum sauce. You guessed it - it too is covered in black and white.
Don't try and tell Ed that too much salt is not good for your health. I have tried it and the result was somewhere between disastrous and deadly.
Most people would agree some seasoning on food is good for enhancing flavors and multiplying the enjoyment of the food we eat. Ed would agree that his food tastes better with lots of salt and pepper on it.
For many of us, just as food is much better with seasoning, life is much better with music added to it. Ed plays the guitar and sings and particularly likes country western music, pop, and folk music. I told Ed that the chorus in a hymn is like a great seasoning that makes the song memorable. Music, like everything, may be seasoned to bring out the richest flavor.
The Bible speaks of music as part of a believer's life in many ways. There was the call to worship or war by the horn's blast or the calming effect of David playing of the harp for King Saul. Professional choirs and instrumental performers were part of the worship at the temple. Psalm 150 speaks of praising the Lord with the seasoning sound of trumpet, harp, lyre, tambourine, strings, flute, and the resounding clash of cymbals.
In the New Testament, Christians are told: "Is any one of you in trouble? He should pray. Is anyone happy? Let him sing songs of praise." It also says: "Do not get drunk on wine which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit. Speak to one another with psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our lord Jesus Christ."
Ed claims to be an unbeliever, but I said to him one day when he was whistling and singing in his yard, "I bet you could sing the chorus to some well-known hymns once you hear the words."
"Try me. I'll show you real people don't know hymns - even famous ones," he said. The first chorus I used was: "This is my story, this is my song; Praising my Savior all the day long; This is my story, this my song; Praising my Savior all the day long." Ed sang the chorus, but said it was unfair because everyone has heard "Blessed Assurance."
Ed said, "Try me again!" So I used the chorus of another hymn with these words: "So I'll cherish the old rugged cross; Till my trophies at last I lay down; I will cling to the old rugged cross; And exchange it someday for a crown." Once again Ed sang the chorus and claimed it was unfair because everyone knows "The Old Rugged Cross."
Only if they are over forty, I told Ed!
