Praise from the Garage Floor

I was sitting in the garage floor yesterday, painting a small window a lovely blue color, and listening to Rend Collective Experiment from my computer.  Singing along to some of the songs, I started thinking about worship and praise, and how my definitions of what that means narrows my width of worship and praise opportunities. 

Let me back up – worship and praise of what?  Worshipping and praising God, taking time for an action of gratitude, a heart of thanks for all that my God is and was and will be.  It’s an act that is uplifting, refreshing, energizing, and at times draining. 

So with that part said….

I’m sitting in the floor, paint brush in hand, and thinking about how worship is more than one style or one type of art and how my very definition limits me.  There is a painter who paints to music and creates incredible paintings as an act of worship.  The gardener who tends the plants so carefully to create a living canvas of color is acting out worship.  A dancer, with every fine tuned motor skill practiced, can move in time to worship.  A musician, a writer, a sculptor, a teacher, a child playing in the sprinkler… the list goes on and on.  Worship can take so many forms; I don’t want my definition to be so limiting – especially when we were made with so many ways to express praise. 

I’m going to start looking for new ways to praise, intentional actions to thank God for his goodness.  I wonder what forms it will take.  

Christmas – Music

   As Christmas approaches the CD’s containing Christmas music are being pulled out, and found all over again. Some of the songs are old friends to my ears, tunes I have grown up singing. Songs such as “Beautiful Star of Bethlehem” have been sung every year for as long as I can remember. Music has been part of the family Christmas tradition for years. We sing traditional hymns, carols, and then Tom T. Hall’s Sneaky Snake. I’m not quite sure how that last one got in there, but the kids (old and young) like it.

   Now, in the kitchen, there is a CD player with music sitting nearby in a basket. As Christmas music is pulled out and played, I find the kitchen turning into a combination of my private concert hall and worship service. With one of my favorite songs, Joy to the World, I sing loudly as pots and pans clank and bang. Always on the look-out for what will be a new favorite, I scour stores looking for Christmas songs I have never heard. But, even with all of that, it is the ones which contain the sweetest memories and the truest words ring out which are held precious.
   Come on over, we will have pie, coffee, and listen to Tchaikovsky’s Nutcracker. Or mix up some sugar cookies to Country Christmas Favorites. Sitting by the fire, we can have instrumental guitar music playing such favorites as O Holy Night, Away in a Manger, and Silent Night. Decorating and wrapping are best done with the jolly favorites like Grandma Got Ran Over by a Reindeer and some familiar Bing Crosby crooning. Whatever the musical mix you prefer, sing along this Christmas and celebrate the day.

Puppy

   An adorable puppy joined our home a few days ago, just for a night as her people were out of town. At fourteen weeks old, she is tiny compared to the labs that are full grown and quite at home in their home. For quite some time, when one of the labs would head toward her at full play speed, she would find the handiest hiding spot. Then, there would be this cute little face looking at the big dogs from under the chair. Soon, one of the dogs learned that the puppy would play with her if she would just lay down and let this little creature come to her.

   Puppies are a lot of work. They are babies, and require a great deal of attention. But, it was fun to see again a puppy exploring her world. Plants were smelled, bushes were bounced on, puppy kisses were had, and a little mouth explored its world through taste. Soon, all three of the girls were running around outside together.
   Puppies are mischief on four paws. They eat things they shouldn’t. They make messes in the house. They bark and cry. Their teeth are sharp. And they are a lot of work! But, they are also cuddly and are happy to see you upon arrival. They are learning to play, learning to be adult dogs. They are too cute when they play with toys. And when they first discover their own tail and chase it round and round, well if you don’t laugh there is something wrong with you. So, don’t get a puppy unless you are willing to put the time and effort and attention and work in that is required to make it into a good dog. But if you are, you will be rewarded in a thousand ways from a creature that speaks without any human words.