The Off-Key Choir of Angels
What ward choir taught me about God's character
Hello my sweet friends! Hope you’ve had a GLORIOUS week! Mine was simply lovely - I’ve started doing my yoga and scripture study every morning at 6 and I feel like a fitness queen that’s all. I also went to institute (a bible study group for young adults) and it was SO FUN. WITH FREE FOOD LIKE WHAT. If any of you aren’t going to institute text me and I will pick you up and sit so gleefully next to you.
Anyways. Enough about me. I rediscovered this poem today during church and remembered that it’s one of my ALL TIME FAVORITES! Seriously, one of the best I’ve done in my opinion. So without further ado, here’s my lil study on how the Lord feels about our meager offerings. :) Enjoy, and give yourself grace this week.
The Off-Key Choir of Angels
It's 10:00 a.m. on a Saturday morning, and a few scraggly members walk into the chapel, still bleary-eyed and tired from the activities the night before.
They have a Christmas concert tomorrow, one they've been preparing for for 7 weeks now.
They start to rehearse, and after just a few minutes they know that it will not be sufficient.The choir is too small.
The pieces are too hard.
Even with 7 weeks of practice,
The melody has not been learned,
The words have not been memorized,
And the tenor doesn't even know what song they're on.They will never be good enough.
The Lord deserves the best, doesn't he? A concert as beautiful and awe-inspiring as Solomon's Temple, one to be remembered through the ages.It's better not to hold the concert.
We have to cancel.I sit and watch the exchange from the piano bench, trying my best to just get through the pieces I've been assigned.
As my clumsy fingers stumble through the notes, the Lord begins to teach me an important lesson.Not all temples have to be like Solomon's.
Nephi and the brother of Jared communed with God on a mountaintop.
For the Israelites, a tent was sufficient to link them to the great Jehovah.
I think of the Kirtland temple, made of broken china and wood yet imbued with the faith, sacrifice, and dedication of the early saints.I'm sure it wasn't that pretty.
And what did the Lord think of it?"Let the hearts of all that people rejoice, who have, with their might, built this house to my name. For behold, I have accepted this house. And my name shall be here, and I will manifest myself to my people in Mercy In This House." (D&C 110:6-7)
The Lord accepted Solomon's Temple.
The Lord accepted a mountaintop.
The Lord accepted a tent.
And the Lord accepted a temple made of broken plates, and wood, and dreams.
For, as we well know, the Lord looketh not on the outward appearance, but on the heart.I am pulled for my musings as the members, still bleary-eyed and now dejected and discouraged, say a prayer and try and decide to try one more time to save this concert.
They open their mouths to sing,
and it's still off-key.And yet, tears fill my eyes, blurring the notes on my page as we all feel, deep within our hearts that the Lord has accepted this choir- scraggly and uncoordinated as it may be.
The crescendos soar along with our hearts as we sing imperfect praises to our perfect Savior and Redeemer, the great I AM.
So when you feel a little off-tune, out of shape, or chipped up, know that the Lord rejoices in your offering,Whatever it looks like.
You are never singing alone.
The Lord is cheering you on in the wings.
Let your heart rejoice, allow him to manifest his power through you, and the standing ovation that awaits in heaven will be remembered by you through the ages.We'll sing and we'll shout with the armies of heaven, Hosanna! Hosanna! to God and the lamb
I love you, my dear friends. Thank you for the light you bring into my life :).
Live laugh love.
Anj