Harmony.....

It smelled of fresh paint. The sun was streaming in the tall windows - 7 on each side of the room. From my perch behind the microphone I could see blue sky, and I watched the trees dancing in the gentle summer breeze. It was, in short, one of the most precious experiences of my life, and even though the Sanctuary was empty, it was truly Spiritual. This afternoon, we went over to the Church - College Boy and I - to practice our music for tomorrow. My Son and I will be singing our first ever duet - He will take the lead.
   I should have known that he would grow up to be a fine musician. When he was a toddler, he sang all of the time. We sang together at bath time, at bedtime, and all of the in between times. The amazing thing, is that even at a very early age - he could hold the melody line, while I sang a few notes of harmony. His favorite toy? A little electronic violin that would play 7 or 8 different tunes....the trick was that you had to move the "bow" over the electronic sensor in the correct rhythm, or it would just be a random series of notes. The labeling on the package read "for 8 years and up"......College Boy mastered it before his third birthday.
   So tomorrow, he will raise his voice, and play his guitar - He will lead the music in our early service - in the House of God where I was raised by my parents.....the same House of God where I, in turn, raised my children. As we sang today - our voices rising and falling in harmony and synchronized breath - my minds eye offered up a vivid slide show. Me, standing in the choir loft at the same age College Boy is now, singing a duet with my Father, who was also an outstanding musician....Holding my baby boy, there in that very Sanctuary, as he was dedicated to the Lord...Watching him Process down the aisle in his little white choir robe with the big red collar - waving his Palm Branch (a more accurate description might be "bashing his friends in the head with his Palm Branch", but still.....). I saw him as a young teenager, standing tall and proud in front of the altar, as he received his Eagle Scout award....but most of all, I saw him floating in the Bathtub, singing his favorite songs - "You are my Sunshine", "Goodnight Ladies" (Do not ASK me how this song found it's way into a two year old's repertoire - I can not tell you, but he sang it with great enthusiasm....), and anything from The Jungle Book or Pete's Dragon.
   As we practiced this afternoon, I felt the presence of my Fathers....the Earthly One, long gone to his reward, and the Heavenly One - who delights in the voices of His Children. Standing there on the podium, in my usual place - at the end, just to the left of the piano, I delighted in the voice of MY Child....of our voices together - just as they were so many years ago....the Same, yet different - separate voices, weaving notes and love together...fed by the music, the harmony and the Spirit.
   Tomorrow, I will marvel at how my little boy has grown into this man...I will stand in awe of his talents....I will sing with my Son during Worship - knowing that I am blessed.....beyond measure.