“Music can change the world.” –Beethoven

I ponder the dilemma of memorizing Scripture, reading accounts of those who have had the entire book of Psalms in their repertoire and I know those with numerous passages tucked away for recall. 

Discussing the memorization quandary with a friend, I asked her, “How can people sing the lyrics of many songs easily yet not remember a name?” 

“Totally different. Different pathways in the brain. No comparison,” she replies. It didn’t make me feel better about not having a cache of Bible verses in my cerebrum. 

If you grew up in the church, you may know the opening line of several hymns. Why is this? Doing some research, I found that when you hear or sing music, not just one part of the brain engages. Rhythm sparks motor areas, melody activates auditory regions, and lyrics tap language centers. Add emotion, and suddenly, memory circuits work in harmony instead of isolation. Music has velcro because it carries feeling. Joy, grief, nostalgia—those emotional surges act like highlighters in the brain, making the memory stand out in a way plain narrative often can’t. 

In several church traditions, a cantor will sing or chant the psalm. It gives the brain a scaffold upon which to hang the words. 

When they were young, my children had a cassette tape (driving my Conestoga wagon😂) that put Bible verses to melodies. I can still sing, “Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good,” sung by Steve Green. That was over thirty years ago. So…I do have a few verses crammed in the brain, although I will have to offer you an off-tune solo to share them with you. 

Different pathways, Rebecca was right. 

Belt it out. When people sing, they literally breathe together. The rise and fall of lungs, the shared timing of voices, is a physical act of unity. Song forces harmony, even if imperfect- I would know. That shared breath becomes a bodily sign of being one body.

Prayer: 

Worship the Lord with gladness; come before him with joyful songs. -Psalm 100:2 

• The “cassette tape” is available on your Apple app ‘Hide ‘Em in Your Heart, vol 1’