What color is your favorite key?

Recently, I've been exploring the idea of associating colors with different musical keys. It's part of a phenomenon called synaesthesia, which has to do with a person associating more than one sense with something. For example, perhaps when you think of the number 2, you always think of the color blue. Or perhaps the smell of rain seems "green" to you. Or perhaps you associate a feeling of sadness with smelling garlic... yeah... it sounds kind of odd, but I think it's a really cool thing to have. Just think of the extra dimension that would add to the world! Instead of just experiencing something in one sense, you would have the vividness and uniqueness of experiencing it in multiple senses.

So, for awhile I've thought synaesthesia was interesting, but I never really thought it applied to me. You see, I have absolute pitch, which means I know where middle C is and can figure out what other notes are based on that (and I'm working on perfect pitch, where I'd know every note instantly). So most of the time I'm able to recognize what key a piece of music is in (if I think about it long enough).

But recently I've been realizing that absolute pitch is not the only thing that makes it easier for me to recognize the key. I also do think about musical keys in colors. The thing is, it's very vague, like the shadow of the color is floating in the back of my mind as I hear the key. And I can't distinguish the color very well because it eludes my gaze as I try to catch it.

I thought I would set out a challenge for myself: to try to "catch" each of these colors that I see with each key.

Thus: 

C Major is a kind of hazy white, like a white sky with just a glow of yellow around the edges.
C Minor is dark... hard to define a distinct color. Perhaps like an umber (brownish).
C#/Db Major: as C#, I'd say some kind of jewel tone, like a vivid turquoise. However, to me, Db Major is periwinkle blue, like a partly cloudy sky. This is really odd because they're technically the same key. :P
C# Minor: I hardly ever play or compose anything in this key (I should!), so it's hard to say... something dark, that's all I can tell.
D Major: A bright, military blue.
D Minor is a slightly bluish or silvery-grey, soft and heathery.
Eb Major: is very bright (both in sound and in color)... definitely a warm color, but other than that hard for me to tell.
Eb Minor: a very dark, rich burgundy.
E Major is red with a hint of orange.
E Minor: very muted, pale rust-red. Close to my idea of G Major, actually, which is interesting because E Minor is the relative minor to G Major.
F Major is a cross between green and blue... but not turquoise. Somewhere inbetween, or perhaps both. :P
F Minor: a dark forest green.
F#/Gb Major: as F#, I would say muted indigo. However, for some reason I would say Gb Major is muted brick red. Another instance of enharmonic equivalents looking different for me.
F# Minor: A more saturated version of F# Major's muted indigo.
G Major: rosy pink
G Minor: dark red, perhaps
Ab Major: not sure... perhaps kind of a peach-y color.
Ab Minor: the color of light. (And this is only because I played Schubert's Impromptu Opus 90 No. 4 which starts out in Ab Minor. I don't really have any other dealings with this key.)
A Major: bright, sunshiny yellow.
A Minor is golden, like wet yellow leaves on the ground.
Bb Major: violet
Bb Minor: a darker, muted, muddy purple.
B Major is almost not a color - I think of sparkles and kind of a bright metallic - perhaps almost blueish or purplish in tint.
B Minor: pale dark blue.

So there you have it! What do you think?

And I'd like to invite you to explore this, whether it's in the realm of music, smell, or words, or anything else that you might have more than one association with. It's great fun - because rarely do two people associate the same things together!

Above All

Have a beautiful and blessed Easter, friends! I hope you'll take some time to reflect on the amazing sacrifice Christ gave of Himself on our behalf.

Who, being in very nature God,
did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage;
rather, he made himself nothing
by taking the very nature of a servant
being made in human likeness.
And being found in appearance as a man,
he humbled himself
by becoming obedient to death—
even death on a cross!

Therefore God exalted him to the highest place
and gave him the name that is above every name,
that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father.

~Philippians 2:6-11 (NIV)

When I am my weakest

When I am my weakest... HE HOLDS ME IN HIS STRONG HANDS.

When I hit rock bottom... HE CARRIES ME ON EAGLES' WINGS.

When I have no will to go on... HE PICKS ME UP AND REMINDS ME OF HIS PLAN FOR MY LIFE.

When my body is worn out... HE INFUSES HIS POWER INTO ME.

When I fear no one loves me... HE CRADLES ME GENTLY AND TIGHTLY CLOSE TO HIS HEART

When my mind gives in to worry... HE REMINDS ME THAT HE'S THE ONLY ONE WHO KNOWS THE FUTURE.

I've been going through a rough time this week with a crazy sickness that won't loose its hold on me. These are the things I have had to hold on tightly to through it all. They are the only things that could bring me through.

Are you going through a difficult time? Something that saps your energy, consumes your emotions, makes you a nervous wreck? I pray that you would join me in holding these truths close as the devil tries to get a foothold of fear and worry in your life. Remind yourself just how much God loves you - and just how close He is through it all.

Where can I go from your Spirit?
Where can I flee from your presence?
If I go up to the heavens, you are there;
if I make my bed in the depths, you are there.
If I rise on the wings of the dawn,
if I settle on the far side of the sea,
even there your hand will guide me,
Your right hand will hold me fast.
Psalm 139: 7-10

The Longing for Love

The longing for love - that aching, sweet sensation - lies within all of us. No matter if we admit this desire and need or go our whole lives forbidding ourselves to ever partake in it, it is there. Love is what drives us to get up in the morning, what makes us invest in people, what makes us share part of ourselves with others. It consumes all of us, whether we are conscious of it or not.

We want so desperately to be loved.

Some display unashamed, abandoned neon signs saying "LOVE ME!". Others hide their longing deep inside.
Yet each one feels just as deeply. 

Some have experienced deep, tearing rejection of their love, while others have never even been given a taste.
Yet each one hurts just as deeply.

Some share their heart timidly, piles of past pain masking their true depth of emotion. Others push themselves on anyone they can find, desperate for at least one who will listen with their heart and not just their ears. 
Yet each one desires to be heard. 

Some create vivid words, melodies, pictures which give perfect expression to the depth of their emotion. Others can't even make their mouth form the words, "I love you."
Yet each one has the same longing to express themselves.

All of these longings for love are simply trying to find their satisfaction in people. This isn't bad in itself, because God made us as relational beings. But, no mere person will fill the empty void inside that so many wish could be filled. God is the one who created the void, and He is the only one who can fill it completely.

We are made not only to be loved, but to love. We are made to be filled with Christ, and then to channel that love through to others. And if we are filled with Christ's love, we will never run dry. Our thirst and the thirst of those around us will always be quenched with Him.

Where do you look to for fulfillment of this longing? When someone rejects you, who do you go to? When you're having a bad day, what do you do? I challenge you to examine yourself and see what God may lay on your heart about seeking love and fulfillment in the wrong places.

And we have this glorious hope that no matter how twisted or torn our view of love may be, the True Love is waiting with open arms for us to run into them and find perfect peace and rest.