If you wanna kiss the sky, you'd better learn how to kneel*

Where did music come from? If it's has been in existence since human being existed in the universe, then probably it was programmed in our DNA and each society then developed their own kind of music. It depends on how music influenced us, I can't emphasize enough that music has drawn my thoughts to God.

It doesn't matter on what kind of music I listen to, I am sure that music exist for our enjoyment and for God's. It is something that cannot be separated from the action of worship in the ancient days. It was what God required to have as the "burnt" offering in the old testament. It was what the entire Psalm was composed of. It was what God used to celebrate the birth of Christ.

Last Saturday, when I was replicating Singer Sargent's painting in Ludlow Garage with my team, I heard this shouting, calming music, came from an instrument called Harped Dulcimer. Although my understanding of music is limited to chords and octave, and my voice could only be heard when the shower is running, my ears know what good music is: it will tell you stories with no words required. And this was how the Harped Dulcimer sounds like. It was as clear as harp, but has the dynamic of guitar, and tune as deep as piano. Dulcimer was rooted from the Irish who came to this country and created their own instrument, and had been enjoyed more in the Appalachian region. The harped is more complicated than the thin, three string dulcimer. I can't remember how many strings it has, but it was just seems more difficult to play.

I really didn't care about what the song was about, and I almost glad there was no words, because then we have the freedom to where we want the music to take us. Music without words gave suggestions, but as the harped dulcimer was playing, my mind was traveling to the mountains where tall trees, shades, smells of eucalyptus, and wet soil mixed with falling leaves. Music is a great tool to meditate, but I thought there should be more than that.

Thoreau introduced the importance of music making, where he suggested to listen to the music making process instead of just "music". Sure there was not any CDs or recording when he was alive, but he had the point. May be music was meant to be experienced both ways, where the maker and the listener could interact just like I was interacting with the harp dulcimer player, as if we understand its language without talking about it, or even compromised on what the music meant to us.

What I was trying to say was, that God created music so that we can have a complete "cross". The horisontal interaction with others and vertical interaction with Him. It is there to remind us that we're not alone, but together in the world.

Another point, that came from U2 (I've been coming back to listening to U2 night and day again!), is that, it can be used to worship without being too "intimidating" or "too evangelical". If I heard words of God in most of U2s music line, other people might too. "If you wanna kiss the sky, better learn how to kneel??" was obvious, isn't it? Prayer is an absolute instrument in our lives. And there is not only U2 that has been worshiping God through "secular music": switchfoot is another group I notice and I listen to. They're like Donald Miller in the music business. My Boss is so brilliant, using all that He created for us so that we can love Him back, my little brain could not even grasp His true genius mind!!

*The line is taken from U2's MysteriousWays.