I believe it's important for us to recognize when God acts in our lives--even in small ways. I'm really not so worried about God's anger, because of course I don't want to anger Him, but I can refer back to Doctrine and Covenants 59:21, which reads, "And in nothing doth man offend God, or against none is his wrath kindled, save those who confess not his hand in all things, and obey not his commandments." Obedience--sure. But then we should also be confessing or acknowledging His hand in "all things".
As I was sitting in a friend's ward in Montana this last Sunday, during the administration of the sacrament, I remembered an experience from many years ago. I'll relate it here:
When my wife and I still lived in Logan, Utah, in a married student ward, I served for a time as the ward choir director. I enjoy music and I think I was always happy to serve in this calling. We had a pianist at the time who was very skilled, which was a pleasure. For one occasion--just a regular sacrament meeting, with no special guests--I prepared to have the choir sing, "Come, O Thou King of Kings". It was an arrangement like what I've often done with hymns, where we sing them as written in the hymnbook but selectively use some of the parts for some verses or parts of verses and then sing full harmony at other times.
I think I felt reasonably confident about the choir's impending performance as the time approached, but on the day of the performance something strange happened. We were joined by several people I hadn't ever seen before. They were roughly about 3-5 men and women I didn't know. Any Church choir director tends to welcome additions to the choir--more often than not, we feel shorthanded--even if it's the day of the performance, and so I was happy to have people join us. I assumed they were members of the ward that I didn't know. I quickly indicated how we were singing the hymn, probably by giving copies of papers that showed the arrangement, and then the choir sang. It was excellent, and powerful. When a sister from the ward stood to speak immediately afterward, she began with a compliment to the choir, saying something to the effect of, "Wow; that was really good!"
I don't think I ever saw those people again. Assuming that they were ward members, I figured I would see them around more, but I think I only ever saw them that one time. Maybe they were in the ward but didn't attend frequently, maybe some of them were visitors, and maybe I just didn't pay attention to my ward well enough to know everyone who was there, but whoever they were, they were angels that day. I don't know if someone attending that day needed extra inspiration or if there might have been some particular reason why a great song from the choir would have been needed. Maybe it was simply a gift from God to brighten all of our lives, and to let us know that He was there and loved us.
Last thoughts for now:
As I reflected on the memory last Sunday, I remembered it with great joy, and I felt that it was simply important for me to recognize and appreciate God acting in my life. I try to show gratitude to Him frequently in prayer, but I'm sure I still take some things for granted. Perhaps it is strange to think of something out of the blue that happened almost two decades ago, but even so I believe it's important to recognize the good that God does for us, and to take joy in His love and gifts.
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