Westmont Magazine The Lord Bless You and Keep You

By Caylie Cox ’21
 

Worshipping in chapel is a wonderful experience. It makes me feel like I’m a part of something greater—a symphony that has lasted for millennia before me and will continue long after I am gone. But singing in College Choir adds another level of depth to my worship. It creates a connection between me and the other singers that is hard to explain. As an alto (the best part, in my humble and unbiased opinion), I often need to create harmonies off of the melody, and I can’t do that without the support of the other altos. At the same time, though, I can’t ignore everyone else. I have to listen to the people around me and use our unique parts to build a sacred space full of beauty and wonder.

During the 2019 choir tour to the East Coast, the connection between me and my fellow choir members deepened dramatically. The music itself brought us closer—we sang not just in our rehearsals and concerts (of which there were an astonishing number!), but before meals, while getting ready, and even on the bus. It’s impossible to careen around the East Coast in a leaky tour bus or cram into a hotel room with three other students without becoming closer (too close?).

Though I knew we would bond as a choir, I didn’t expect to get to know the people we met. The trip was an absolute whirlwind: We never stayed in one place for more than a day, and often only remained a few hours at the churches where we sang. And yet, through our music, we built connections wherever we went. For example, our bus driver, Jay, joked with us (and put up with our tour bus songs) the entire 10 days. We also got to sing with and for a junior-high choir at a morning workshop at their school. It was energizing and uplifting to see the happiness and laughter they brought to their music.

By far, though, the best bonds were formed in our concerts–even if they only lasted an hour. Every so often, I sneaked a look at the audience, and I saw a lot of smiles. I noticed a few people with their eyes closed, completely enraptured in the music. And once or twice, I glimpsed someone wiping away a tear. After the concerts ended, we sometimes got the chance to talk with our audiences. One of the comments I remember most clearly came from an elderly woman who told us, “I haven’t been to something like this in so long.” I was honored to bring beautiful music back into someone’s life—to draw her into the sacred space of choral worship.

We created this sacred space in many different churches, from an incense-filled church in the middle of Brooklyn to a pristine small-town church in Connecticut. In every place, we connected with people we had never met before and will likely never meet again. They welcomed us into their homes, prepared beautiful potlucks for us, and did all they could to show hospitality to us. We could only do our best to return the favor with our music.

At the end of most of our concerts, we sang our benediction–the same benediction that the entire student body sings in chapel every so often. During the tour, we often sang it while holding hands in a huge circle around the entire church. The blessing felt like a parting gift to the people who had been so kind to us. I must admit, though, my favorite benediction came after our very last concert, when we sang it to Jay as he conducted with a huge grin on his face.

In fact, the choir tour itself felt like a benediction as the “concert” of the semester came to a close. About to return home to places thousands of miles apart, our choir was able to savor this beautiful ending to our time together by blessing those around us–and each other!–with a dedication to God.

The Lord bless you and keep you.
The Lord make His face to shine upon you
And be gracious unto you.
Amen.