River Flows in You
11.06.2009 | All Blog Posts, BodyPrayer, The Arts, Technology, and Prayer
Music connects with something deep within us. It awakens us spiritually.
Here’s my 19 year old son, interpreting a song by Yiruma. He’s added a bridge he wrote, but it fits in so well I can’t tell what’s his and what’s Yiruma. And that’s as it should be when the river flows in you. Josh started playing the piano this past year. But it connects deeply within him. This video reveals the way he’s letting his body inhabit the music. Rather than just playing notes, he’s beginning to yield; whenever we yield the the Spirit we’re no longer playing at something, we’re being played.
Okay, so I’m a proud father. But Josh’s playing illustrates the path of spiritual awakening, the yielding that’s necessary for prayer. There comes a point when we must lose our heads and inhabit prayer itself, until we’re no longer conscious of praying, but find ourselves being prayed.
Josh is still a beginner and probably making some mistakes. But he doesn’t care; he’s already letting go.
So, if you’re beginning at prayer, don’t let your need to get your praying right dam up the river that wants to flow in you (John 7.38).
1. Make some mistakes.
2. Try new things.
3. Feel.
4. And let the Spirit pray in you.
11.06.2009
Just found your blog and am finding my way around it, great song.
11.06.2009
you are so right about the power of music – that’s why i think worship is so often musical, though not exclusively. a powerful piece of music always stirs up the deepest places within us.
11.07.2009
My son is 18 and recently started with the guitar. Right now he’s going through some rough times and I see the peace that he experiences when he plays and in aw at his talent. Perhaps I am also a proud parent, but that is my job!
thank God for the gift of music is all I can say.
And BTW, verybeautiful and true words about using this in prayer. Thanks!
11.07.2009
Jacqui, yes, music is its own language. It enters the deeper places of our lives and can bypass the thoughts that often confuse us and keep us at a distance from God.