Last night I watched the end of the most recent episode of “America’s Got Talent” with my kids. They are addicted to the show, whereas I am a “walk-by glancer.” The program is well done, incredibly popular and even better this season with Simon Cowell in a judge’s seat. Occasionally I get sucked in. Last night was one of those occasions.

The performer who made me sit down was 16-year-old Calysta Bevier of Grand Rapids, Ohio, who told the story of her cancer survival and then sang “Fight Song” by Rachel Platten. You can watch the audition for yourself here if you’d like. I’ll be honest, I wasn’t balling but by the end of her song but I was close.

Music can tell a story and take you to a place like nothing else can. It can tell of healing and struggle, of brokenness and joy. It can summarize our challenges and provide a beat for our celebrations.

A couple of weekends ago, Elisa and I were in Chicago for our anniversary and we went to a Cubs game. The Cubs are a good baseball team and I don’t like it, but they won the game, which made everyone else in the stadium happy, so that was good.  The fans cheered throughout the game and the team’s victory made the traditional post-game song the fans sing, “Go Cubs, Go!” even louder and even more contagious. You can watch a version for yourself here if you want to share in the celebration. Obviously, out of protest, I didn’t sing the song but out of compulsion I did dance because that’s what music does to you.

The power of music not only keeps us from standing still, it also helps move us forward.  Dr. Roberta R. King is a professor at Fuller Seminary who recently wrote an article about how music can move us toward reconciliation and peace with others.  She has observed music as a form of healing and interfaith hospitality and believes that we can be blessed by being musical peacemakers.

Music is not just a part of pop culture or baseball game after-parties — music is a force that changes people. Though we can describe it as a force, it is not some abstract thing that’s beyond our choosing. Music is a choice we make. No matter where you are or what you are doing, you decide whether or not you choose music.

We make musical choices every day. We choose to sing along with the car stereo or in the shower. We choose whether or not we’ll hum along in the grocery store aisle or if we’ll sing our baby to sleep. We are constantly making musical choices.

Every weekend at Pathway Church we come together and play music and sing, and every person in the room has the choice of whether or not they will participate.  Do we sing or not?  Do we choose to let music tell our story and take us to a place of engagement with God like nothing else can?  Do we let the power of music press us toward the gospel and unite us with the people around us?  Do we choose the music to keep us from standing still and help us move forward?

Calysta Bevier selected “Fight Song” to perform in her “America’s Got Talent” audition and it was a song that helped her tell her story while also helping her move forward.  Howie Mandel, a comedian who also is a judge on the show, recapped her performance by saying to her, “you come to this point and you make choices and you made the choice of singing THAT song and that’s your fight song.”  She agreed.  That’s exactly right.

Everyone of us gets to a point and has to make a choice.  Do we, with wisdom, choose music and allow it to shape us and move us? Or do we just use music as a noise to fill the empty spaces.  Do we choose music to shape our hearts, remind us of our story and make an impact to those around us? Or do we pridefully ignore our role and let the professionals handle it?

I encourage you to choose the music.  Create your own playlist, sure, but I’m talking about music as a much greater thing.  I’m not taking about genres or the secular versus sacred quagmire — I’m talking about MUSIC.  Music as a force moving down the tracks that if driven by the Holy Spirit in your life can do amazing things.  Make the choice to get on that train.  Choose the music!