I didn't want to be there. After driving over 6 hours, most of them in the dark, in the freezing December weather, all I needed was a warm bed and sleep. But our son, Ken, expected Mom and Dad to show up for the Bethel Christmas Concert and we were there. Grumpy old Dad. And we had to traipse all the way up into the balcony to find a seat yet! The Great Hall (and it IS a great hall!) on Bethel's campus was jammed with people in a far more convivial mood than mine.

I love choral music; it is my favorite genre of music, particularly a cappella choral music. There were some surprises and a lot of traditional pieces in the concert. But toward the end, the choir sang a piece (in which my son and future daughter-in-law participated) which elevated the concert to a worship experience the likes of which I've had only once since, in Cambridge, England.

The focus of the concert was the "Magnificat," Luke 1:46ff. - "My soul doth magnify the Lord." The setting this time was by Fred Prentice, a composer I'd never heard of. The choir was on the main floor, but 5 soprano soloists were placed around the perimeter of the balcony. The piece began very quietly and eventually soared as each of those soloists ringingly rose to a high B-flat (that's pretty high!) and I was "done in."

I was lifted beyond my grouchiness into the very presence of the God whose Son we were celebrating at this season, in this place. I was ashamed of my attitude, my ingratitude, my lack of awareness of God's presence in the music, in my family. I was reminded once again that God is to be worshiped and adored, regardless of how I feel at any given moment.

I could not speak for many minutes after the concert. I knew I would break down and sob if I even opened my mouth. Music affects me that way sometimes. Was this "just" emotion? Probably, but it was in the context of Mary's celebration of the truly "blessed event" she was about to experience. I only know that music, Christmas music, truly music of worship, lifted me to the very throne of God that night.

I doubt I will "tear up" when we sing "O Come, All Ye Faithful" on Christmas Eve, but I trust that I will always expect God to be present in our Christmas music - and that I will look for Him and anticipate meeting Him there.