Psalm 121:1-2 “I lift up my eyes to the hills – where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth.”
When our two daughters – now teenagers – were around 5 years old, we watched “The Sound of Music” in a continuous loop. I can still picture our girls sitting on a staircase singing “So Long, Farewell” or sitting on their beds singing “My Favorite Things.” The mantras “the hills are alive with the sound of music” and “climb every mountain” are not only musical tunes in our family, but have come to represent favorite memories of our trips to Colorado and motivational reminders that together we can accomplish just about anything.
It’s amazing how a simple story can become part of the fabric of our lives. The characters of the movie “The Sound of Music” instill hope, confidence, and a sense of belonging, even 75+ years after the original events which inspired the story. The story reminds us of the incredible tragedies and challenges faced in Europe during the mid-20th century, but also the everyday challenges we all face in dealing with siblings, parents, and the changes in the world around us.
One of my favorite scenes in the movie is the closing image of the family walking through the mountains toward a brighter future in a free land. I’ve often thought that the mountains do bring a sense of peace, freedom, adventure, and hope. The Psalmist must have experienced similar feelings when reflecting upon finding help from the Lord through the image of the mountains. When we are down or discouraged, we need only to lift up our eyes (and our spirits) to look beyond ourselves and to see that God is walking with us along life’s journey. Music can move us toward a deeper and more profound understanding of the nature and character of God and remind us that we are not alone in this world. Next time you see the mountains, remember that your help comes from the Lord!
-Phil Greenwald, Executive Pastor of Administration
