As those of us who've haunted this forum for years now know, the "discussion" regarding the efficacy of any number of versions of piped, electronically powered and digital organs has raged on way passed 300 comments, according to one of the prominent posters. That observation was coupled with a suggestion that, if for no other reason (my take), CMAA'ers should attend the '14 Colloquium in Indy for the organ crawl possibilities. Excellent suggestion as I've done one of those when at an ACDA national held there one spring a while ago. Interestingly enough, most of the ACDA convention crowning events for me always proved to be the common "hymn sing" at incredible churches across the nation. What they had in fellowship, though, the "sings" lacked a substantive purpose in the sense of worship. They are/were always celebrations to be sure. And the Lord's Name was most beautifully invoked. But among all the conventioneers the diversity of beliefs, or perhaps even non-belief as well, obviated the necessity to regard the "sing" as a celebration of sacred song, not God. Unfortunately my many experiences at NPM nationals/regionals displayed even less palatable religiosity over two decades begining in1979.

So, eventually (through the written persuasion of the one and only Jason Pennington of then Lafayette and now Little Rock) I was intrigued by the notion of "Six Days of Musical Heaven" and attended my first colloquium at CUA. And it was just that and more. Every aspect of the "hymn sing" experience was magnified not only by repertoire and intent, but that its only purpose was to serve and adorn the daily liturgies, hours and Mass, each and every day. Incredible filial bonds among members were forged forever, and that became an even greater motivation to attend subsequently colloquia and intensives. This was no conceit: this was, as a Roman Catholic via Sondheim, "Being Alive." And eventually I personally was "slain by the spirit" and let the TLM fully into my being at one of the Masses in Pittsburgh.

I wish neither to bore the reader nor admonish anyone or have a Festivus Airing of Grievances in this post. But I have to wonder (as I wander) through certain MSF threads if we all tend towards a zeal that exceeds the ultimate reason to incorporate as CMAA, which is to incorporate as Christians, the original Christians and not let certain diversions cause us to sit down in stasis and weep over this exegency or that which encumber us, or to behold the miracle of dewfall from heaven that represents as did manna the culminating miracle of the incarnation of YHWH as an absolutely helpless and vulnerable newborn infant in the City of Bread and David.

From Nativity to Epiphany, the slaughter of the Innocents, the presentation in the temple to the Baptism of the Lord, we have an abundance of catechism that should compel us to sing in the public square as if it were heaven (which, ironically, it is in a quantum perspective.)

So, the ideals of CMAA remain the best navigator for whomever among us assumes the roles of helmsmen, or deckhand on the barque of Peter at worship. But all those ideals are a conceptual construct that attend what cannot be idealized or idolized, the worship of the One True God. I would hope that as we conduct all our good business on this and other fori of our profession, we keep that in mind. Cantare amaris est. Cantate Domino cantincum novum! Guadete!