The Music & the Spoken Word broadcast airs live via TV, radio, and internet stream on Sunday at 9:30 a.m. mountain time. For information on other airtimes, visit “Airing Schedules” at musicandthespokenword.org.

This encore performance of Music & the Spoken Word has been specially selected for airing while the Choir and Orchestra are practicing social distancing. It contains a new Spoken Word written and delivered by Lloyd Newell.

Music

Conductors: Mack Wilberg and Ryan Murphy
Organist: Andrew Unsworth
Narrator: Lloyd Newell

“‘Give,’ Said the Little Stream”^1,3
Music: William B. Bradbury
Lyrics: Fanny J. Crosby
Arrangement: Ryan Murphy

“Called to Serve”^2,3
Music: Walter G. Tyler
Lyrics: Grace Gordon
Arrangement: Mack Wilberg

“Final from Symphony no. 1” (organ solo)
Music: Louis Vierne

“I Know That My Savior Loves Me”^1,3
Music and Lyrics: Tami Jeppson Creamer and Derena Bell
Arrangement: Ryan Murphy

“On a Clear Day” from On a Clear Day You Can See Forever
Music: Burton Lane
Lyrics: Alan Jay Lerner 
Arrangement: Arthur Harris

1. On the CD Teach Me To Walk In The Light.
2. On the CD Called to Serve.
3. In the CD set The Missionary Collection.

The Spoken Word

Something Is Better Than Nothing

During one holiday break, a family decided they would work on an intricate jigsaw puzzle. They hoped this would be a fun opportunity to spend some time together. Their goal was to finish the puzzle before work and school started up again. During the first few days, everyone was all in. Then things started to slow down as they enjoyed other distractions. It looked like they would never accomplish their goal. But the family recommitted, and little by little, they worked on the puzzle until completion. Their motto became: doing something each day is better than doing nothing.

Sometimes the enormity of the task in front of us is so daunting, so overwhelming, that getting started and staying with it can feel impossible. Certainly, most of life’s difficult challenges and trials are much more rigorous than a puzzle. But the same principle applies: doing something is better than doing nothing.

Of course, in some circumstances, nothing is better than something. For example, there are times when a tense situation is best handled with silence and restraint, which are always better than saying or doing something in anger. But when it comes to improving ourselves or accomplishing a goal, even though we can’t do everything all at once, we can do something regularly, and that’s better than doing nothing at all.

An older couple has applied this motto to their physical health. Each day, they try to go for a little walk, stretch a bit, and move through their aches and pains. They have their physical limits, but they don’t let that stop them from doing something each day.

For others of us, it may not be a body but a relationship that needs strengthening. Here too, some small step toward healing is almost always better than doing nothing. And if that relationship we want to build is with God, there are many meaningful steps available: saying a prayer, taking a moment to ponder, reading from scripture, reaching out to someone in need. All of these small and simple efforts yield great results over time.

So when you feel like a task is too big, remember that putting it off for another day won’t make it any smaller. Progress comes by doing something, and that’s better than doing nothing.