Sing him songs, belt out hymns, translate his wonders into music! Psalm 105:2 (MSG)

Wendy and I are headed to London in a few weeks on vacation. As part of our "royal tour," we have tickets to see the Royal Philharmonic play Beethoven's 9th Symphony. In preparation for the trip, I was listening to the work in my car yesterday. The entire symphony is breathtaking, but most people immediately recognize the 4th movement as Beethoven's popular "Ode to Joy." I cruised down highway 163 between Monroe and Otley with my stereo cranked, tears welling up in my eyes as the chorus belted out the familiar tune.

When I read the phrase "translate his wonders in to music" this morning, I was transported back to my mobile, symphonic worship experience yesterday. One of the things I love about creative expression, whether it is music, stage, film, paint, or sculpture, is the embodiment of the intangible in a tangible form. You can't possibly contain the fullness of God's wonders in any one piece, but there are works of creative expression that capture pure, if momentary, glimpses of it.

Here's to all of those who dare to take up the psalmists call to translate God's intangible wonders into tangible form.

Creative Commons photo courtesy of Flickrand CPJobling