Higher Joy Through Music
Words + Photo: Grant Norsworthy
Music brings me joy. A lot of joy.
Not just the fluffy, feel-good, smile-on-my-face joy. There's been plenty of that, sure, but there's more. There's also a deeper, more profound, core joy. Delight. Rapture. Wonder. The satisfaction of deeper longings.
Music has brought me so much joy that, throughout my life I've made ways to interact with and explore music in many different ways and forms: listening, playing, singing, writing, arranging, producing, recording, performing in many different styles, situations and contexts.
I heard it said that "If you do what you love [if it brings you joy] you’ll never work a day in your life". That sounded good to me so, many years ago, I decided to have a go at being a professional musician.
I guess I succeeded! For the last 25 years or so, my 'work' has related - in one way or another - to music. In 2002 I even relocated from my home city of Melbourne Australia to Nashville, Tennessee (aka 'Music City USA') with a Christian Contemporary Music band called the Paul Colman Trio. I played bass for some well-known Christian artists. For a while I was a member of 'the forefathers of the modern worship revival' Sonicflood. I heard my band's songs on Christian radio. Had some hits. Did a lot of touring. Saw a lot of the world. Played for some big crowds. Got some awards.
I was chasing the dream. Trying to use music to fill my own joy tank. I tried to use music to:
- play songs that I liked, the way I liked them,
- make people like the music I liked,
- entertain and impress audiences,
- be popular,
- be well-respected and admired,
- make people like me,
- get paid.
I could even honestly say that, as a Jesus-following musician in the Christian Music Industry, I wanted to use music to tell people about Jesus.
It was a wild ride with many challenges, struggles and some pain but, yes, a lot of joy too. But ultimately, these goals were stained with huge dollops of self-centredness and, therefore, pointless. The joy achieved through these selfish goals was real, but fleeting.
But more is possible. There’s a deeper, higher joy.
With music I've found ways to be more creative. Express myself in ways that would not have been possible without music. To become more of who I really am; who I am created to be. For me, music is one of the things that has opened pathways to connect more deeply with humanity and divinity. To connect with God.
In more recent years, I've realised that music is not just a 'thing' for me to use to try to bring me joy. Music is actually a gift from The Almighty. Like everything else, God created music and it is He who makes music available and accessible to us. And like all of His gifts, He gives music so that we would use it as He intended it to be used.
We can use music for our own purposes if we want, but I believe that the original designed purpose of music is that it would help us connect more deeply with our Creator and with each other. Music can facilitate deeper, more authentic connection with God and our community.
In more recent years, I've discovered a higher joy that’s possible with music. Rather than performing music for an audience, I would rather use music to invite other people to (in a sense) join a 'band' with me. To sing and play music together as an expression of worship to God. The people in front of me are not my audience. They are my band-mates. The choir! In a mysterious way, God is the audience.
To me, this is the best and main reason why we have music in our church gatherings. When our church congregation gathers on a Sunday morning (or any other time) we highly value singing together to show the worth - or worship - Almighty God. We sing prayers to Him, praises of Him and declarations of truth about Him together.
"Music speaks what cannot be expressed. Soothes the mind and gives it rest. Heals the heart and makes it whole. Flows from heaven to the soul." (Anon.)
Maybe not everyone is wired like I am with regard to music. Maybe I'm a bit weird as I sense something deeper and more spiritual about music. But I am yet to meet a single person who does not resonate with music on some level. Music brings joy to a lot of people, but maybe we - The Church - could experience more of the higher joy that’s possible through music.
This is why I founded More Than Music Mentor. Now based in Tasman, New Zealand, I provide online and onsite training for the heart and the art of worshipping musicians. I help the Christian Church's (usually) amateur, volunteer singers, instrumentalists and technicians more warmly invite their regular church congregations to sing together worshipfully (and joyfully) to the 'audience' of One.
Performing this joyful work is what brought me to Christchurch in early May 2024. Alongside my spokesperson role for World Vision NZ, I worked with several churches' music teams over my 12-day visit including St Timothy's Church (Burnside-Harewood Parish) and St Barnabas (Fendalton Parish).
And I'm ready to help your church's team of worshipping musicians too! Send me an email to info@grantnorsworthy.com. Let's begin the conversation. Let's explore together how we can help your church family taste more of the higher joy that is possible through music.
Psalm 95:1-2 (NIV)
Come, let us sing for joy to the Lord;
let us shout aloud to the Rock of our salvation.
Let us come before him with thanksgiving
and extol him with music and song.
