Do You Know That One Person Can Change The Atmosphere Of A City?
Welcome to the next daily installment of this true story, which you can find posted here each afternoon until it comes to an end.
Chapter 102: Hymnals
On the train, as I have mentioned, we had some hymnals that we sang from. They were a hymnal that I encountered when I was about 16 years old. They are slim. They have a variety of old time favorite hymns (such as Blessed Assurance, Be Thou My Vision, Great Is Thy Faithfulness, There Is A Balm In Gilead) and some newer beautiful songs (Seek Ye First The Kingdom of God, I Was There To Hear Your Borning Cry, I The Lord Of Sea And Sky).
They are softcover and at once portable and durable. There is one aspect that I did not consider about these books at first, when God told me I was to go find 12 copies of this specific book: this book is a book that is likely to be had by a church that is on the decline, moving in the direction of closing down.
Music has a way of making room for meditative study of the scripture as Psalm 1 tells us to do. Music has a way of clearing the air. Music has a way of changing the air. Music has a way of gathering people together, but it also has a way of chasing some away.
As Pastor Rick once commented to me by text message, in the midst of this journey on the Amtrak “Do you know that one person can change the atmosphere of a whole city?” One song can change the atmosphere of a room. I believe our prayer time changed the atmosphere of the train. On future trips, I received confirmation that the atmosphere of the train was changed by our prayer services. How amazing life might be if the atmosphere of everywhere man stepped was changed by the servants of Christ. It does not need to just be in church or just on a train. That same focus on Jesus and the blessing that brings can be anywhere and everywhere, as long as it is brought there. Jesus says where 2 or 3 are gathered there in my name, there I am among them. (Matthew 18:19-20)
Music comes with an almost infectious tune that you might not be able to get out of your head, but which is at once calming. It comes with a message spoken in an economy of words. In music you can find a sermon spoken, gently delivered in a few moments. Music can be understood and uplifting to one person, encouraging a person in the walk with the Lord, helping a person to feel God’s loving gentle touch. The very same song can be convicting to another person. It can leave that person feeling a want to change, to amend in life, to do things differently, to address a certain aspect of life.
Music also builds community as people do the thing that few like to do: to sing in front of others. It leaves a person taking risk and being vulnerable. This vulnerability in front of and with others can be bonding. Also, the nature of song is that there are places for pausing and breathing written into the song. The words “take a breath” do not appear in the music, but the way the music is composed, often leaves very clear and natural room for a person to pause for breath. As a result of that and other factors, singing with others creates an environment for a group of people to literally breathe together. In doing so, they are even physiologically bringing themselves into closer alignment with each other. Synchronicity of breath is a powerful way to bond with another person but doing it intentionally can sometimes be so artificial. Without realizing it, without even intending it, a group of people simply by singing together is a group of people breathing together. Song is very powerful in bringing people together.
-Allan Stevo
This is a selection from my forthcoming book, “The Amtrak Vignettes.” A neat story began with the writing of “The Amtrak Vignettes” in October 2023. Every day until that story comes to an end, I intend to share a part of it here. It is a part of my faith journey as a Christian, a faith journey that has been deepened since the Ides of March 2020. Some of it gets pretty wild and nothing that a “reasonable” person would find himself in the midst of. Few will be scared off by it. Instead, many will grow deeper in their faith. I know that, because I know my readers well, and I know that few come here expecting me to give a milquetoast version of anything. Come here to be challenged. Stay here to have your life changed. That, I believe, is what will come of this work. You can support that work by signing up below.