A Perfect Pandemic Playlist and the Pursuit of Peace

Question: What do “Amazing Grace” and “Rockin’ Pneumonia and the Boogie Woogie Flu” have in common? 

Let me give you a clue.

I recently discovered the playlist: “Rita Wilson’s Quarantunes.” Wilson, who contracted COVID-19 along with her husband Tom Hanks, put this eclectic mix together with input from her fans. It contains love ballads, spiritual songs, and upbeat dance tunes to encourage us (and bring a little humor) during this time of quarantine and social distancing. 

While I enjoy most of the songs, the mix is so eclectic that its randomness leaves me uneasy. For example, transitioning from the slow peaceful “Come Healing” by Leonard Cohen to the brisk and jaunty “Love Will Keep Us Together” by Captain and Tennille, is jarring.

And, you guessed it: “Amazing Grace” and “Boogie Woogie Flu” are both on this list. Hearing them together in one playlist is just a little unsettling.

Still, I’ve decided “Quarantunes” is the perfect playlist for what we’re all going through. If anything has been unsettling, it’s been these early weeks of March 2020. The abrupt change in the tempo of our lives has been shocking.

Tempo: the speed at which a passage of music is or should be played; 

the rate or speed of motion or activity; pace.

For some, daily activities have come to a sudden halt. No need to rush out the door in the morning to work or school. No dress rehearsals, tournaments, or conferences to attend. No reservations to make or trips to plan. No Sunday morning drives to church for our weekly worship.

For others, the tempo has gone into high gear. Working overtime at the hospital while homeschooling the kids. Being thrown into a world of technology to plan online lessons for students. Keeping up with the constant stream of closures, cancelations, and COVID-19 developments through news and social media.

For many, the changes have brought heartbreak. Study abroad experiences cut in half. Quick, unexpected farewells to college friends. The final moments of the senior year (high school or college) left hanging, with no promise of getting them back. Baby showers, cruises, weddings, and even funerals…postponed.

For most, a pandemic brings fear. The loss of jobs, store closures, and crumbling economy have us worried. The constant barrage of bad news, stories of sickness and death, and images of makeshift hospitals and funeral processions, bring fear for our own lives and those of our loved ones. 

Whether our days are too slow or too fast, too empty or too scary, the change has been sudden and shocking. And more than a little unsettling.

How do we adapt when the tempo of our lives has changed so drastically? When the mood has gone from happy and buoyant to melancholy and ominous? 

I don’t have the answers.

But I have noticed in difficult times, people turn to music. “Quarantunes” is a good example of how music can inspire and uplift. My experience in bands and choirs has also shown me that music can teach us lessons for life. And so, I give you these lessons…for peace in a pandemic.

First, when the tempo changes abruptly, 

the most important thing to do is keep your eyes on the conductor. 

In times of trouble, God is waiting for us to look toward Him. He wants us to turn to his Word for encouragement and direction. Spending time in prayer each day reminds us He is ultimately in control of this seemingly chaotic situation. Praying also focuses our thoughts on others who are struggling and gives us a mindset of gratitude for the blessings we have. 

Even though we can’t meet on Sunday in the church sanctuary, we have access to technology that can bring us together in worship. I like the way the Message Bible translates Hebrews 10: 24-25: 

Let’s see how inventive we can be in encouraging love and helping out, not avoiding worshiping together as some do but spurring each other on, especially as we see the big Day approaching.

When we’re not sure what to do next or fears creep in, let’s look to our Conductor for guidance and direction.

Second, understand and establish your rhythm. 

Rhythm: a strong, regular, repeated pattern of movement or sound; 

a regularly recurring sequence of events, actions, or processes.

To learn the rhythm of a song you must study the notes, each with different values. Some require more emphasis; others less. Some are held out longer; others very short. 

With COVID-19 restrictions, our lives’ rhythms have been completely rewritten. It’s as if the composer came along and scribbled out the previous song and replaced it with something entirely new. 

It’s a cacophony like we’ve never heard before. 

But finding our rhythm, the patterns of emphasis and timing, is still crucial. We must emphasize what’s important, like showing love, being calm, and sharing hope. Establishing a new schedule that prioritizes our mental, physical, relational, and spiritual health before amusements and entertainment (which are also important at times like these), will bring rhythm and order to this time of uncertainty. 

Finally, remember the importance of staying together. 

Band: a group of musicians who play brass, wind, or percussion instruments. 

A group of people who have a common interest or purpose.

Even one band member who’s out of step or playing a wrong note will stand out like a sore thumb in an otherwise beautiful performance. During a pandemic, those who refuse to follow restrictions due to their own selfish interests are putting themselves and others at risk.

Now is the time for us to band together as one; to put the good of community ahead of personal desires.

Even though we are physically distanced, we must come together like never before. Encouraging one another through virtual meetups, messages, and phone calls will be necessary. We’ll find new ways of helping our neighbors, caring for the poor, and comforting the sick. Establishing these habits and practices right now will serve us well in the long run. 

Life’s tempo has changed and this new beat we’re marching to is uncertain, unfamiliar and unsettling. 

Like a random playlist, we have no idea what’s coming next.

But like an orchestra that follows its conductor, establishes a rhythm, and stays together; we just may find a new song of hope and peace.

Photo Credit: Chloe Hanstra