As a writer I am often inspired by daily life – those random, everyday moments that are suddenly and unexpectedly spotlighted by the Holy Spirit for the purpose of capturing my attention. I had such a moment last week.

I was scrolling through TV channels and came across the movie Pitch Perfect 2. I had seen parts of it before but never the whole thing. The condensed back story is of a college women’s acapella group who were preparing for an international competition. They had become intimidated by the flashy and impressive sound of a European group that was favored to win.

The Bellas struggled through trying to imitate the edgy stage presence of the European group and toughen up their image. The problem was that in the process they lost their identity. They lost what made them unique. They stumbled through cover songs trying to re-invent themselves in an attempt to compare with someone else – someone they simply weren’t made to be.

Flash forward to me sitting on the couch with the remote in my hand. The movie still had an hour left and I did not have that kind of time, but I felt compelled to look up the final scene on YouTube before I went about my day. 

Halfway through the Bellas’ performance on the world stage, they return to their roots. The lights dim as a single spotlight shines on a lone voice begins singing an original song written by the youngest and newest member of the group and arranged by one of the veteran voices. One by one, the additional voices are added as the rest of the Bellas step into the spotlight.

As simple and flawless harmonies begin to fill the air, a commentator asks, “Is it possible the Barden Bellas are doing an original song?”

There is a sense of wonder as the Bellas seem to have rediscovered their own unique sound. Then an unprecedented and unexpected thing happens. The lights go up to reveal dozens more ladies on the stage singing along.

“Look at this!” exclaims the stunned commentator.

Her partner continues, “It looks like the Barden Bellas are being joined on stage by generations of Bellas going all the way back to the beginning!”

This is where I lost it. I watched women of all ages, shapes, sizes and colors all singing together, and it was like the older ones were saying to the younger ones, “This is who you are. We share this DNA, and we have your back. You got this!”

A sense of wonder filled the air as the music continued, and the audience was drawn into the song. I started to weep. I couldn’t stop crying – or smiling. I felt silly and a little crazy at my reaction to this movie scene. What in the world was wrong with me?

I asked the Lord, “Why is this having such a strong impact on me?”

“Because this is My heart,” He whispered.

“I want to see the generations coming together to make beautiful music for Me.”

That did it. I was undone.

There is so much I could share about the revelation that flooded my heart in the moments that followed but for the sake of time, I will leave it at this for now (take this as a corporate or individual word):

When we, the body of Christ, stop trying to imitate the world around us, stop  trying to look like something/someone we are not made to be – when we rediscover our identity in the original song He has placed within us and release our own unique sound with the generations standing side-by-side, the audience (the world) will take notice. They will be drawn into the song and will begin to sing along.

And the music will be beautiful.