In a recent discussion on the American Christian Fiction Writers email loop, various writers shared how music intertwined with their writing. Some listen for inspiration but must write to silence, while others have certain music for different stories that helps them get into the setting and characters as they write.
I am rather a mixture of the two, but when I shared about the CDs that provided much of the “soundtrack” for my novel, one writer wrote back very interested in one of them. So I thought others might like to know more about it too.
Terry and Darlene Wildman head up RainSong, a ministry to the First Nations of America through culturally Native American music and storytelling. My dad bought their “Rising Sun” CD some time ago, but it wasn’t until the Lord laid this story about the Navajo on my heart that I really began to listen to it. While the style felt different to me at first, the more I listened, the more the music impressed itself onto my heart, teaching me how beautiful our Lord is when expressed and glorified through all the different people and cultures He has made, aching my heart with the pain and persevering strength of the host peoples of our land, and most of all, reminding me of the hope Jesus brings to all nations and how He is working to bring healing and reconciliation, though we still have so far to go. He is the Sun of Righteousness who rises with healing in His wings.
If you are interested, you can listen to clips of RainSong’s Creator-honoring music here. Some of my favorites on this CD include the instrumental “Daybreak,” which somehow captures the arid beauty of a Diné Tah sunrise, “On Eagle’s Wings,” “Rain Dance,” “Season of the Wind,” which always brings to mind the wind and thunderclouds of New Mexico for me, and “The Sound of Your Voice,” which challenges me to hear His call and respond however He wants me to. And of course, “Rising Sun,” to me the unofficial theme song of my story.
I hope you are blessed.
Thanks for introducing me to this group. =)
I’m glad you like them! It’s been good to connect with you, Nancy. 🙂
[…] throbbing rhythm of the music now touches something deeper within me after all the Native American worship music I’ve listened to since beginning my […]