Singing God’s song in times of struggle and in places of pain and dislocation was important in ancient times, and it continues to strengthen us in our own time.

Music in a Non-Place
The story of David and King Saul in I Samuel 16: 14-23 provides a Biblical window into the solace and strength that the gift of music offers. King Saul was tormented by an evil spirit. To sooth his nerves, the king’s servants brought young David, who was musically gifted. Whenever the evil spirit took possession of King Saul, David played his lyre. Invariably, Saul was relieved and felt better.
             Young David stood face to face with the reigning king who, tormented by the attacks of an evil spirit, sent out shrieks of pain, from the depths of his psychological war zone. Faced with this occupied space of self-destruction and hopelessness, David was called upon to produce healing music. David’s space is a non-place, as is the space of his music. Healing-centered music can come out of non-places and transform them into sites of healing.

Music from a Wounded Place
Music can come from the wounded places of the soul as well. The decade of 2001-2010 is designated by the World Council of Churches as the “Decade to Overcome Violence: Churches Seeking Reconciliation and Peace”. The theme song for the year 2004, specifically devoted to addressing violence in the United States, was “A Song for Peace”, written by Betty Rod, who is a survivor of violence.
             Betty says, “We survivors of violence can be lonely souls. SOur histories are personal, life-altering, wrenching…There is a risk as we extend our voices, bodies, and psyches. We know as long as violence devastates, we cannot be completely at peace.” This song, written with her husband, David, can be downloaded for non-commercial use from www.overcomingviolence.org

Music in an In-Between Place
Jay Godfrey, Seminar Designer for the Women’s Division, says, “In 1998-1999, I served as a Mission Intern for the United Methodist Church at the youth house named Omladinski Center in central Bosnia. Established on the dividing line of the small town of Gornji Vakuf/Uskoplje by the United Methodist Committee On Relief and the Vienna office of the United Nations, this youth house was set up to help facilitate reconciliation and healing among Muslim and Catholic youth. One of the activities I led at the center was a guitar class. After learning some basic chords and strumming patterns, the boys were able to pick up a simple three-chord Bosnian rock song, ‘Balkan.’ Their faces lit up. The music provided a sense of comfort for the teens, something not found in their daily lives, and healing began to take place.”
              We hold songs deep within us. Let them come out, as we seek to sing God’s songs of peace in a divided world full of non-places, wounded places, and in-between places.