Three times in Psalm 46 the often overlooked little word found throughout the Psalms, “Selah,” is found. Psalm 46 is already brief, only 11 verses, but it is interrupted, arrested in mid-stride, halted three different times to call us to rest. This seeming contradiction is intensified by the dramatic, bold declarations of “God is a refuge and strength, a very present help in time of trouble” (vs. 1). This psalm has the earth giving way and mountains being cast into the seas! To pause in such a moment seems out of place. Yet, there lies the instruction three different times: wait here: pause: linger.
All of this stirred a long forgotten memory for me and I was transported 40 years into the past to the choir room at Holt High School in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. There I sat with 50 or so other students trying to figure out “Aint A That Good News,” a beautiful and rapid fire negro spiritual, full of movement and vigor. But it closes with a rest before the final, triumphant “Good News!” and we were struggling to get it right. Some were holding on too long, others were coming in too quickly. It was just a mess. But into that mess our director, Benny Russel, spoke truths that taught us something about music theory and life.
He put down his director’s baton and sat down on his stool for a moment until every eye and ear was tuned to him, and then, after an additional pause, he spoke. He told us about the rest sign there at the end of that piece of music and asked if we knew what it meant. He was not angry, frustrated or out of sorts, he was simply helping us to engage with an important moment. After affirmations were given from across the room that we could identify a rest sign in a piece of music he began helping us connect the dots between the theory of a rest sign and the practice of a rest sign.
The rest sign is a unique moment in the life of a musician. It is a moment when they do nothing. Their skills and performance are put on hold, set aside, and shuttled to the back of the line. Such a moment, Mr. Russell explained, can make or break a piece of music. He asked how many were familiar with “The Hallelujah Chorus” and a smattering of hands went up. He reminded us of that magnificent moment at the end where there is this astonishing and unexpected pause, but in order for it to have the intended impact, the musician must disappear. One dare not sing or play through a rest sign or the power of the piece, the memory of the melody, the anticipation of the resolution will be forever lost.
Benny knew he was teaching us more than music theory that day, and now, some 40 years later, I am still learning the lesson.
“Be still and know…” Selah
The Shepherd's Staff 