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Music Ministry in This Time of Awakening By Sandi Kimmel "One day at a time What a time this - a wonderful time to be doing my work, sharing healing music with all the ears who need to hear it. And from this vantage point, I can see that I've been getting ready for my music ministry all my life. Fourteen years in corporate America convinced me that my calling was definitely elsewhere. But where? I became an Interfaith Minister in 1996, and asked the Universe (God, Goddess, Creator, Source of All There Is) to show me how I could be of service. My mind filled with vivid memories of my early music days hootenannies and folk-songs, summer camp and campfires, long afternoons of painful adolescence spent plunking out Joni Mitchell and Simon & Garfunkel songs, and leading "This Land is Your Land" at local peace rallies. I grew up singing and playing guitar, writing songs before anyone told me I couldn't. And being a proud child of the 60s, it didn't take long for me to understand that my job in this life is to share my music, my heart and my energy in joyful and melodic ways. I released my first CD, TRANSITIONS - Music to Soothe the Soul, in June 2000, with the intention of helping the world heal, one song at a time. The music is spreading everywhere, with all kinds of people using it as an oasis of calm in their hectic world. I've been told my lyrics are being used to teach English in Siberia, as well as helping people discover and define their own spiritual beliefs. My music ministry includes taking the music into all kinds of healthcare settings, encouraging people to take a temporary leave of absence from their pain and join me in song. And when people are exposed to the healing power of music, all kinds of amazing things happen. Alzheimer's patients who haven't spoken a word in months suddenly make sounds and respond to the music. Hospice patients who are ready to leave this world feel comforted and supported. Stroke patients regain their speech and their spirits. Seniors feel young again, and children giggle with delight and respond to the positive messages ("Be who you are, Say what you feel, Only the moment that you're in is real.") I've given workshops to nurses and home health aides, encouraging them to sing to their patients. After all, lullabies in any language are soothing and comforting. Along my merry musical way, I've been accused of being an uplifter, a soul-gonger, and a goose-bumper. Really, I am just a lover - a lover of people, a lover of music, and a lover of love. I feel deep satisfaction knowing I'm doing what I set out to do. But wait. There's more. It didn't take long for me to feel the inner urgings to write more songs. Before I knew it, I had another collection of songs wanting their turn to do their job out in the world. and MUSIC IN MY SOUL was born. The process of creative collaboration is an exhilarating mystery. Talents and craft come together in new and unexpected ways. Oh, what joy to work in the recording studio with my incredible co-producer, musician and friend, John Guth, who lets the songs become who they really are. The 13 new songs have one thing in common - they are all filled with light and love, guaranteed to raise the vibration of anyone within earshot. It's "heart & soul" music - a touchstone to lift the spirits all the way to joy! Three of the songs were co-written with Beddy Sinkoff, who also sings beautiful harmonies on them and others, and another song was co-written with Kadar Weyrick. Raising the energy and excitement to already upbeat songs are wonderful harmonies and vocal arrangements by Lisa Lipkin Werbin (and her vocal group, With Spirit Sing - Laurie Brown, Christine Pepe, Rachel Seliber and Lisa Lipkin Werbin), and tasty instrumental expressions by John Guth. Each of us has our own unique sound to add to the whole of the Universe. UNI-VERSE. It connects us all. Let yourself sing, hum, chant and listen to music. When we open to music, our whole being vibrates. What could be better than that? © 2002 S. Kimmel You have permission to reprint this story for use in your e-zine, at your website or in your newsletter. The only requirement is to include the following footer with links: Story by Sandi Kimmel. For more original content like this, visit www.musichealer.com Reprint permission granted with this footer included.
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