What will I post? The world may never know...or never want to know. I have decided to break down and go with the popular crowd at church. I know, I'm such a follower. But good for you who have stood against the lions of injustice and stayed away from Blogging and all other types of self-promotion through online tools.
I am weak and have a particular fondness of self-promotion, however. I guess that is a good quality to have as a soprano...maybe not as a Christian though. I am often at a loss as to how to live my life as a singer and a Christian. Some things just do not cohere. As an opera singer all day long you are supposed to think about yourself. I am even supposed to practice in front of a mirror!!! My teacher tells me that I must not get any rounder, hahaha! She said that I am the roundest I should be and that I should take Yoga classes. Now, my teacher is only telling me this for my own professional good. She is right, looks are sctually starting to matter in opera. So not only do I have to constantly ask myself am I singing beautifully, I also have to ask myself am I looking beatiful, too. As someone who already struggles with her looks, this is not an easy task. The opera life can really be a stumbling block for those who are unwilling to put Christ's desires above his/her voice teacher's desires.
There are some really great things about learning how to sing that reveal my sin to me in a positive, cleansing way also. For one, singing teaches me about my impatience. I hate having to work hard and wait until I am older just to have a better, fuller sound. Why can't I just sound perfect now? Hmmm.... sounds like I need to trust God, doesn't it? Of course, this is how I talk to God all of the time. Why do I have to wait for this, and that, and why don't You hurry up already!?!
Yes, God is merciful and gracious and, of course, always right. Time and time again I am humbled by His ability to always prove me wrong. I don't know why I argue with Him. Well, actually I do know why I argue with Him. Here it comes, the big word that everyone has to deal with: PRIDE!!! Oh, what would we sinners do without it? (Probably find something else to suck at) In other words, I know..God, You don't. Wow, what silly creatures we are. He created me and my mother and her mother and her mother, etc. but I actually think that I know when things should happen. Which leads me to something else singing teaches me: I like to control things.
In singing controlling the voice usually creates tension. For me, I used to have major tension in my jaw. Now, my teacher and I are working on tongue tension. For the past 8 years of lessons, a great majority of time has actually been spent on learning how to relax. I can see that the past three and a half years of my christian birth and life has been spent learning how to relax and trust God. I think learning how to sing will be easier.
Wow, so these blogging things are addicting. Good thing I work at the center for behavioral health. I think I need IOP classes for blogging. Till next time I remain yours faithfully
Mrs. Pickett
4 comments:
Dear Lauren,
That was a great post! You would know as well as anyone the tensions that can come because of being in the opera world as a Christian. We'll see just how that can play out in real life when we go to the opera tonight.
I like the format, too. It's fun that you sign every post as "Mrs. Pickett". :)
Very faithfully yours,
Mr. Pickett
Dear Mrs. Pickett, As a fellow blogger, let me let you in on a little secret. It's not so much self promotion as a way for all of us to keep up with each other when at a distance (like Josh), busy daily (you, me, others) or unique experiences (like our Rwanda team). Plus, sometimes it is just downright entertainment (Nathan and often Kara). ANyway, glad you joined the blogging world. How fun, plus the women were certainly not in the majority here.
Hey, by the by, we missed you at study the past few weeks!
Blessings,
Mrs. J (a.k.a. Kim)
Wow...looks like the way to sign off on this blog is as a Mrs.
This is a very thought provoking place. I am glad you have become blogable.
Mrs.P
(not to be confused with THE Mrs.P aka Lauren, the sinful soprano)
(Mrs. Pierson; aka Rachel)
...this is fun
Two quotes to think upon Mr. dialect o' gesture in regards to Christian freedom:
John 31-38: 31 So Jesus was saying to those Jews who had believed Him, "If you continue in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine; 32 and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free." 33 They answered Him, "We are Abraham's descendants and have never yet been enslaved to anyone; how is it that You say, `You will become free'?" 34 Jesus answered them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who commits sin is the slave of sin. 35 "The slave does not remain in the house forever; the son does remain forever. 36 "So if the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed."
Romans 6:17-23; 17 But thanks be to God that though you were slaves of sin, you became obedient from the heart to that form of teaching to which you were committed, 18 and having been freed from sin, you became slaves of righteousness. 19 I am speaking in human terms because of the weakness of your flesh. For just as you presented your members as slaves to impurity and to lawlessness, resulting in further lawlessness, so now present your members as slaves to righteousness, resulting in sanctification. 20 For when you were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness. 21 Therefore what benefit were you then deriving from the things of which you are now ashamed? For the outcome of those things is death. 22 But now having been freed from sin and enslaved to God, you derive your benefit, resulting in sanctification, and the outcome, eternal life. 23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
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