By Christine Hestwood
Music Director

“Be still and know that I am God.” -Psalm 36:10

In my work, I am constantly surrounded by sound. You may be surprised to know that I rarely listen to music in my car or at home. I typically only listen to music when I’m studying a score or selecting music for church.

You won’t be surprised to learn that I’m a high extrovert. I always seek opportunities to engage with others, be it for work or social events. I am energized by others. Being a high extrovert is exhausting. Constant motion is my modus operandi. I am rarely still. I love a good sleep in on a Saturday. But once I’m up, I’m out the door.

I’m not going to give up anything for Lent. Rather, I’m going to add something. I’m going to add silence and stillness. The Cherub Choir often reminds us that big change starts small. I’m going to start small with ten minutes of complete silence. Just me and my thoughts. After I acclimate to the “sound of silence,” I’ll be adding devotions.

If you are compelled to add some stillness to your routine, find a quiet space, a comfy chair, excellent speakers, and a recording of Mahler’s 2nd Symphony, the Resurrection Symphony. It’s 90 minutes in length and scored for a massive orchestra, soloists, and chorus. There are five movements, so you can break it into more manageable “chunks.” Make sure to have translations of the texts ready. The final choral entrance is stunning, some of the most powerful minutes of music I have ever heard. Perfect listening for Lent.

By the time you read this, I will hopefully be two weeks into this promise to myself. Writing this article is accountability – please stop me and ask how it’s going! Let me know if you listen to Mahler’s 2nd Symphony!