Written by Day Marshall, LMHC (Senior Clinician)
In a recent team meeting at HCC, we spent a few minutes reflecting on how we’re doing with taking care of ourselves during this season. Like the rest of the world, as therapists our lives are significantly altered due to COVID, and some of the things we take for granted for our sense of well-being can easily slip into oblivion due to so many adjustments and restrictions.
One of my teammates reflected her need to get back to having worship music in her life as a significant means of connecting with God. This struck a deep chord in my heart. Normally, worship through music is a constant part of my life; I participate in the worship at church, I listen to worship music as I make the hour-plus commute to and from work, and I tend to have music on at home when I’m cleaning or cooking and especially when my husband is out of the house at work. I suddenly realized, however, that my life has been sorely missing worship music for nearly an entire year. I no longer drive to work, my husband is ALWAYS home with me, and I don’t turn on music at home often for some reason. Though we continue leading worship on Sundays, it is from our living room since our congregation has continued to meet remotely since March.
I am reminded that worship in song is one of the primary ways Scripture tells us that we connect with the Lord and each other. The psalms especially are filled with reflections on the significance of singing praise to the Lord as an integral part of our relationship with him. Psalm 40 reflects that the Lord himself places song on our lips, and in Psalm 98 we are given a picture of praise for the Lord bursting forth from his children along with all of creation. Revelation reflects on the certainty of singing praise to God being an eternal heart position. Numerous other Scriptures talk about speaking to and encouraging each other through music. I realized that I am sorely missing music as a language of communion with my Savior at the moment.
Part of our team discussion focused on a simple change we can make to improve on the way we are caring for ourselves right now. One take away for me is the determination to reintroduce regular worship opportunities into my week. This will likely require long drives alone in order for me to blast my favorite songs, often on repeat, while I sing along at full voice. I fully expect tears and prayers to be a part of this, so I’ll be sure to bring ample tissues for the outings. I also recognize that having open road is a significant part of the worship-in-my-car experience since I can drive without having to think too much about stops and turns, and people sitting next to me at a red light looking at my gestures and nose blowing, wondering about my mental state. So perhaps night time drives would be best...