Lent 2026 Day 16 – Music
You might have noticed I've been thinking a lot about music lately. Taking a break from Twitch has allowed me to sort of “musically reset” as I have tried to focus on listening to music that elevates the soul and draws me closer to God. It is reawakening a long-dormant part of myself that once loved to play musical instruments and create my own music.
Early in my life, I wanted to pursue a career in music education. I played clarinet and tenor saxophone in concert bands, ensembles, jazz bands, jazz combos, etc. throughout my entire secondary and post-secondary education and I wanted to do nothing else. But life took me down a different path.
This morning I remembered a project I started about 22 years ago. I was serving as an executive secretary in the bishopric of the Mesa College Third Ward (a student ward at Mesa Community College in Mesa, AZ). In a bishopric meeting Bishop Burton mentioned that one of his favorite hymns was “Come unto Him” (#114 in the green hymn book) but that he wished someone would set the lyrics by Theodore E. Curtis to different music. I never forgot that comment and thought I might take a stab at putting this beautiful text with my own composition.
(1) I wander through the still of night, When solitude is ev’rywhere— Alone, beneath the starry light, And yet I know that God is there. I kneel upon the grass and pray; An answer comes without a voice. It takes my burden all away And makes my aching heart rejoice.
(2) When I am filled with strong desire And ask a boon of him, I see No miracle of living fire, But what I ask flows into me. And when the tempest rages high I feel no arm around me thrust, But ev’ry storm goes rolling by When I repose in him my trust.
(3) It matters not what may befall, What threat’ning hand hangs over me; He is my rampart through it all, My refuge from mine enemy. Come unto him all ye depressed, Ye erring souls whose eyes are dim, Ye weary ones who long for rest. Come unto him! Come unto him!
Over the years I have composed new music for this hymn on the piano, but I have never made a serious effort to arrange it or write it down.
This morning, out of the blue, this project came to my mind once again and I decided it was time to get these ideas out of my head and onto print. And also GarageBand (Apple's free music creation software). I even started thinking of some new musical ideas I could work into it.
Rather than compose it as a straightforward hymn, I want to make it a choral arrangement. This has all come about because of my recent discovery of VOCES8, the angelic-sounding vocal octet from the UK. I can't get enough of their music these days. And I've been imagining writing my own music for a group like them.
I'm not saying my version of “Come Unto Him” will ever be sung by any group, let alone the likes of VOCES8.
But I have been reminded of how integral music has been to my life and to my understanding of and faith in God. For me, music is one of the most beautiful of all of God's creations, and I believe He delights in good and sacred music. I can't imagine a Heaven without music.
I'm excited to see how this composition turns out. I'll be sure to share it with you when I finish it.
#100DaysToOffload (No. 146) #faith #Lent #music