Meaningless Noise?

It begins with the faint tinkling of a rattle
progresses to wooden spoons
on the empty cans of
tinker toys
wooden blocks
Bristol blocks
and whatever else
can be turned into a drum
meaningless noise
then one day
rhythm and hands collide
and a drummer is born!

I sing
I clap
I raise my hands
I call it worship.

Or is it meaningless noise?
like wooden spoons
beating without rhythm
on whatever it can find?
My thoughts and emotions
so tangled up with “life” . . .
just going through the motions . . .
only noise in my Father’s ears?

We have been instructed
exhorted
admonished
sing!
clap!
raise your hands! . . .

But at some point
decision and actions
must collide with spirit
or remain forever clanging cymbals!

“I hate all your show and pretense . . .
Away with your hymns of praise!
They are only noise to my ears.
I will not listen to your music,
no matter how lovely it is.
Instead, I want to see
a mighty flood of justice,
a river of righteous living
that will never run dry.”
Amos 5:21a, 23-24 NLT

Am I singing
in harmony
while out of tune
with God
and with others?
Only God can judge.

Lord, help me . . .
I don’t want be a
clanging symbol
a noisy gong
I desire to worship
You
You alone
with the music of my life
my heart
not just my lips
lost in your love for me
and my love for you.