PRACTICE

reflection on a new discovery

In the last few weeks, I have learned again the importance of practice and most especially that kind of practice that can seem the most tedious. I have been concerned for a while now about the voice as it grows older. One of the things that can happen is that the vibrato gets slower and slower and soon you have a voice that people say sounds old and sloppy. I have of late taken to practicing vocal runs of the kind that you hear in the music of Bach and Handel. I hum up and down the scale as fast as I can over and over and over again. It turns out to be a bother to people around me so I have taken to moving to the garage early in the morning to do my practicing of runs.

This is not very interesting stuff, but what I am discovering is that the voice seems to have grown younger. What I mean is that the vibrato is faster than it has been in the last year or so, and the voice is much more agile and flexible. It comes to me all over again the importance of practice- whether that be practicing vocal runs, keyboard scales or Spiritual disciplines. I realize with some sadness that I don't know much at all about the continual practice of Spiritual Disciplines. I think that I like most people believe that if you are aware of the ways in which you want to grow it will just happen. I think the fruits of the Spirit must indeed be practiced and that daily. Those who avail themselves of the help of a Spiritual Director or some kind of regular Spiritual formation know this to be true.

I fear I have been really lazy about this part of my life. It's a bit strange that this realization should come to me through working on my voice, but there you go. I believe I have much to do when it comes to my physical voice but even more to do when it comes to my spirit. I hope I see you running up and down the scales with me.