Music Reverberates to Heaven

By brother initiate Hsieh Huan-tsai, Taipei, Formosa

I am not sure if it was my inner yearning or Master's call of love that led me to join the Taipei Chorus. I used to be arrogant when learning anything, but this time, under the professional guidance of a sister initiate, I became less and less confident of myself after each practice with the Chorus. It had been more than a decade since I had sung a musical note, and I had lost all sense of musicality. I was over forty and was joining a chorus for the first time in my life! As soon as I opened my mouth, the sister immediately called me an "unpolished" jadestone, and despite her repeated efforts, she failed to change me into a "polished" piece of jade. I was so discouraged that I wanted to quit, but then I thought, since I had already joined the Chorus, it was only proper that I should persevere bravely and leave everything else to God.

  As the day of the performance approached, each Chorus member seemed to have taken a booster shot and improved dramatically; their singing was already on a different level from that of our first practice. Affected by this inexplicable force, I became more and more nervous. When I drove to and from work each day, I continuously played Master's musical compositions and practiced repeatedly by following Her singing, hoping to grasp some subtle points that could improve my own singing skills. After work, I drove to a secluded mountainside, where I sang loudly, although none of the nearby birds, insects or frogs dared to join me. Regardless of their disapproval, I still sang with all my heart until I forgot myself in the music.

  On May 5th, the Taipei Chorus finally went on stage. Perfectly prepared, we sang in such concord that the fifty Chorus members sounded like one person singing. Our harmonious voices reverberated so powerfully that they soared to heaven, and even I felt extremely touched. I am very grateful to God for granting me this unforgettable opportunity to immerse myself in Master's ocean of love through music.