(Emily Schmalz was a voice student at the University of Richmond and a participant in Jubal. Jubal is an informal group that meets at UR to explore issues regarding music and faith.)
Abba, You have created my heart to love harmony, to melt when two or three voices sing, in perfect tune, praises to You.
I love how we sing in harmony as I spend time with You in prayer and I can hear Your gentle, soothing voice of faithful love and care.
Thank You for the exhilarating anticipation that accompanies every dissonance and carries with it the promise of a glorious return to sweet harmony.
Thank You for my ear to hear and my voice to create both melody and harmony.
Thank You for the peace I feel when I am walking in Your will and our wills are in harmonious accordance.
Thank You for the times of dissonance, too, for though they are often times of pain and trial and molding of my heart, you always work all things together for good —no dissonance is left unresolved— You faithfully resolve each and every chord in my life.
And thank You, most of all, God, for sending Christ, the great Resolver of the dissonance of this fallen world into the perfect harmony of friendship and right standing with You.
Amen