1042. Music washes away from the soul the dust of everyday life. ~Berthold Auerbach

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And the night shall be filled with music,
And the cares that infest the day
Shall fold their tents
And as silently steal away.
~Edited lines by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

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In January, as winter begins to deepen, the rhythms that “wash away from the soul the dust of everyday life” grow faint, as if whispered. However, when nature’s earthly notes are muffled by icy gales, heavy frosts, or falling snow, the “echo of the spheres” overheard remains audible. And on the less chilly days, the ones between cold fronts, bits and pieces of tender, albeit potent, harmonies often continue to rise. Today, for example, I spotted the tiny tips of hyacinth bulbs breaking the cold, hard ground, and as if escaping through the tiny fissures the bulbs had created, Eden’s heartbeat jumped up another fraction of a decibel. Even on the really, really forbiddingly cold days, within the sounds of silence, there are pauses, ripe and pregnant, that are as eloquent as notes and lyrics. For it is in those rests and pauses that can be heard dulcet sounds, soothing honeyed ones which are recognized not by the ears, but by the soul. And although it has been said that trees and flowers grow in utter silence while the sun, the moon, and the stars above our heads do the same, I’m not sure that’s true. I contend that on any  given day of the year if one listens with a hunger in the heart and a thirst in the soul, the footfalls of God can yet be ascertained upon the sacred soil of Creation and His voice which spoke everything into being can still be heard echoing amid the orbs of the firmament. That’s why if one stills him or herself and earnestly seeks Yahweh’s face, it can be made out even winter’s inhospitable bleakness. And after it’s glimpsed, one’s ears can also discern the sweet, sweet sounds of the Father’s loving utterances as He calls out to His beloved children.

The music is not in the notes,
but in the silence in between.
~Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the Lord God as He was walking in the garden in the cool of the day… ~Excerpt from Genesis 3:8 ✝

**Images via Pinterest; collage created by Natalie

33 thoughts on “1042. Music washes away from the soul the dust of everyday life. ~Berthold Auerbach”

  4. Been immersed in a bit of #musictherapy the past few weeks. When my heart has exhausted all the words and emotions to express the loss of love all that remains is music to soothe the soul – – to buoy the spirits – – to cleanse the ears of one’s own voice – – to breathe new life into my sense of emptiness.

    Music is strong medicine for what ails my soul.

    Great post. ☺

    Liked by 1 person

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  7. kind of like that thought about a tree falling in the forest—yep, it makes a sound as it crashes to the ground—and as nature breathes her breath of growth and life—there is music—perhaps not overtly audible to our ears…but a symphony none the less—and on these cold gray days—Spring’s forthcoming symphony will be beautiful welcomed music indeed 🙂
    (sorry I got to this late, or actually early—I went to bed before you posted so I found it this morning 🙂 and what a lovely thing to find upon waking on a typical cold, wet, gray Georgia winter morning 🙂 )

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    • You are absolutely right. I couldn’t have and didn’t say it better myself. I just couldn’t seem to get this one worded the way I wanted it yesterday and so I rewrote and rewrote until it was very late when I posted it. And I figured most everybody wouldn’t find it or read it until today. So no problem my friend. It has been cold, wet, and gray here all day. Stay warm, missy. In a little while, I’m going in to have some tea and your honey to keep me going.
      I got so behind yesterday that I’m still answering comments. Love and hugs, N 🙂 ❤

      Liked by 1 person

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