Towards the end of his life, prolific
author, Neal A. Maxwell wrote a book called One More Strain of Praise. I have
always admired Maxwell’s eloquence and perspective, but me being a music lover,
I was especially drawn to this title.
In his book he took words from the
well-known hymn Sing We Now at Parting
for chapter headings; For Unnumbered
Blessings, Still the Notes Prolong,
and In a Pleasing Way, to name a few.
The book’s title itself is also drawn from George Manwaring’s text of the hymn.
Some people believe that books are not
to be written in. I have a friend whose personal library
is filled with many books perfectly
aligned in bookshelves, all in pristine condition. I’m not that
kind of person. I underline. I
highlight. I star and circle passages that jump out at me. I have
noticed from my markings that I can
read the same book at different stages of my life and glean entirely different messages each time I
read it.
Maxwell writes of the music of faith
and how hope is a realistic anticipation that takes the form of a determination. “No wonder souls can
be stirred and rallied by real hope’s reveille as by no other music.” My copy of the page where
charity is described has quite a few stars scribbled in the margins.
Immediately after arranging this piece
I had a tendency to rush through it as I played it. But
after letting the music settle into my
heart, I now take it a bit slower, taking time to savor the notes because, according to Maxwell,
the music of faith deserves to be prolonged.
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