Many of us may find it easy to experience God in church, within a community of church friends, or when taking part in church activity. At least easier than in a secular setting such as at work or with people who may not share our spiritual beliefs.
At least that was what I thought till these past few years showed me that God works also through the secular, and perhaps just as powerfully.
Having been a fulltime Church worker in the media apostolate for more than 20 years, I have seen how God works through the written word for Church readers. When I decided to leave fulltime Church work in 2019, as I felt that God had other plans for me, it left me wondering: how do I bring God into the secular realm?
After a few months, I was offered a job as a pianist [I have a performer’s diploma in music] at a private hospital, playing for special events. Later, I became the resident pianist playing for patients, their family members and visitors to the hospital.
My job was easy – playing soothing, calming and cheerful tunes that I have carefully chosen for the hospital environment, with a repertoire ranging from sentimental pop ballads, to oldies, Disney tunes, musicals, light jazz and familiar classics. However, it left me wondering: how do I bring God to my listeners, especially when the music I play has to be secular music?
I then decided to pray before each gig for the Holy Spirit to touch the people through the music.
When I did that, some amazing things happened. Parents started dancing and singing with their young children, people pushed their babies in prams right up to the piano, elderly people in wheelchairs requested songs.
God can work anytime, anywhere, and using any means
One young lady even told me that the music helped to calm her before and after surgery.
Some patients started sharing with me about their illnesses and requested their favourite tunes. For several of them, I made it a point to learn the song they requested if it wasn’t in my repertoire so I could play it for them the next time I saw them.
As we celebrate the 500 years of Christianity in the Philippines. The Chaplaincy to Filipino Migrants organises an on-line talk every Tuesday at 9.00pm. You can join us at:
https://www.Facebook.com/CFM-Gifted-to-give-101039001847033
For those who told me they were suffering from serious illnesses like cancer, I assured them of my prayers, even if I wasn’t sure if they were religious. Nevertheless, they all seemed grateful for that.
I’ve received thank-you cards, and gifts of flowers, snacks and drinks from happy listeners who said that they found the music healing. Many of their comments left me really humbled and awestruck – as I realised that it has to be God working through the music, because I had asked him to.
These episodes have shown me clearly that God can work powerfully in the secular realm. And even though I do not speak about religion directly, I am sure that God touches these people in a special way as, hopefully, they experience his love through the music.
I realise that all I can do, in this situation that God has put me in, is to just lift it up to him, and let him do the rest in his own way.
It has shown me that God can work anytime, anywhere, and using any means.
Christopher Khoo
(Singapore-based freelance musician,
freelance journalist and educator)
