“That all may honor the Son just as they honor the Father.”
John 5:23, NIV
I pay close attention at funerals when I hear relatives and longtime friends talk about the deceased. Often, the first few words that come out undoubtedly reflect what was truly important to their departed loved ones while on earth. Following is how I would like to be remembered:
“Lou was a lover. He loved God and people. He loved God’s Word and he loved music.”
“My friend, Lou, was a purposeful singer. No matter what he sang, he did it for the sole glory of God.”
“Louima Lilite was a giver. He gave purposefully of his time, talent, treasure, and toil.”
“He was a mirror. He reflected divine truth to others, helping them to see and think more clearly after spending time with him.”
“Dr. Lilite was a teacher. He inspired people to seek to honor God and His Word, and to appreciate God’s gift of music to the world.”
For now, however, I am still alive by the grace of God. As such, I seek to lead a life which tells the world that the Author of all life matters to me. That is why the phrase, “In all I do, I honor You,” extracted from Chris Tomlin’s song, Amazing Love, has become my heartbeat. It is a sweet refrain that counsels my heart again and again to strive to please God in all my endeavors. It reminds me that my number one priority is to revere and reflect God in my duties as a husband, father, son, brother, friend, confidant, mentor, teacher, student, writer, co-worker, and certainly as a musician.
Numerous talks with my parents suggest that, as a small boy, I was an avid reader of God’s Word. They both tell me that I used to get really excited at the mere mention of the Bible. Unfortunately, by the time I hit my teen years, my interest in biblical stories and spiritual matters declined deplorably. The excitement I felt about God’s Word was replaced by my growing obsession with music and all it had to offer.
This passion for music filled my heart at a very young age when I started singing. The songs, lyrics, and enchanting harmonies that invaded my life during my childhood and adolescence helped me cope with some tough life experiences and, to a certain extent, escape the harsh realities of growing up in Haiti. The more I sang, the more hooked I became – I simply kept craving more and more music.
It was that same passion that drove me to forgo the pleasures of playing with other kids, choosing to practice the piano instead. It later fueled my desire and commitment to study music in college with a double concentration in voice and piano performance. It led me to pursue two other advanced degrees, learning from some of the best musicians in the world.
So, it is no secret that music has always been a great passion of mine. Yet, there was a void that music could not fill. Even as a teenager, I realized that the elation that was so palpable in the practice room could not be matched during conversations with peers in the hallway. The thrill of the stage did not keep me warm when, in the coldness of the night, all kinds of temptations and concerns would seek to freeze my soul with forceful gusts of doubt.
While in college, however, something significant happened to me. Though I was privileged to study under the guidance of many wonderful professors, there was one teacher in particular who intrigued me. When he and I crossed paths, my life took a major turn. He gradually became my role model by exemplifying that which the Christian man ought to say, think, share, and do.
With God’s grace, he helped me envision how music and the supernatural are interwoven or interlinked. He was relentless in his pursuit of fully integrating his deep faith in daily musical matters and other life issues. A simple talk with him in his office was akin to entering the holy of holies – he pointed others to Christ so seamlessly. He introduced me to a world of wisdom filled with biblical truths, a hunger for genuine worship, a tapestry of authentic relationships, and a desire for real beauty. On numerous occasions, he pointed out connections between music and faith, current events and faith, and even more mundane connections such as food and faith.
He cared deeply about the spiritual state of all he encountered to the point of mourning with tears in his eyes over the rampant apathy that still plagues the Christian community. He was deliberate in demanding that his singers seek God’s face throughout the rehearsal process. He carefully crafted every musical phrase so that each note would be dripping with the essence of Christ. It is his example that has inspired my performing and teaching to rally others in experiencing and sharing the fullness of faith-filled music making.
Following his example, I feel called as a teacher to let this message of transformation undergird not only every lesson I plan and teach, but also every advising session I hold with the students placed under my guidance. I perceive the need to connect my faith with the musical concepts I encounter either as I study a score or just by living the life of a musician. It is my way of seeking to keep my mind alert and focused on “heavenly things,” as instructed by the apostle Paul in Colossians 3:1.
As a particular musical idea comes to mind, I find myself looking for a deeper spiritual truth that can be extracted from it. Once discovered, I simply cannot rest until I find a way to joyfully share it with others.
Still, I was a bit surprised when a few years ago, a student of mine requested to have my thoughts in writing. In granting her request, I decided to start an e-devotional letter called The Music Connection (sent monthly to a number of students, colleagues, and friends during the academic year) which elicited an overwhelming response from many of its recipients.
As people responded to each entry, I was reminded that hearts were hungry for the Word of God and that minds were searching for ways to experience faith integration in all areas of life. Some have felt encouraged to fight the good fight of faith as it gets increasingly harder to shine the light of Christ within the performing arts. Some have felt strengthened by the Lord’s goodness as they feel scrutinized and analyzed by their non-Christian friends. Others have felt healed and comforted. More importantly, others have felt a renewed passion to worship God with wholehearted devotion.
It is that kind of life transformation that compelled me to write When Music Meets Faith. I became convinced that more lives will be transformed as I surrender my will and gifts into the hands of God. In response, God has graciously turned my modest effort through The Music Connection into an offspring that can, in turn, bless others.
When Music Meets Faith is not written exclusively for musicians. It is intended for all persons who want to grow as increasingly devoted followers and worshippers of God. Its purpose is to tutor every reader in a lifestyle of deeply integrated faith in all areas of human knowledge. Though all the words studied are musical terms, they merely scratch the surface of musical knowledge in an attempt to keep a user-friendly approach to the discussion. Each term has also been given ample consideration to depict normal activities to which non-musicians can relate.
My hope is that the reader will have a taste of the faith-integrated lifestyle and that each entry will foster a stronger appetite for God’s Word. May this be a tremendous blessing to all who read it! And above all, may the name of Jesus be praised, revered, and honored in every area of life!
