Music: The Art of Togetherness

About the Book

Through his experience as a psychologist, a musician, and a spiritual seeker, B.J. Gonzalvo demonstrates the role of music as our guide in recreating inner harmony as well as social harmony. Just like in our gathering songs or opening hymns, music has the transcendent and transformative power to open up our hearts, bring us all together, unite us in harmony, and provide the cadence for our voices and our heartbeats. When we come together with one purpose of making beautiful harmony, there is a sense of elevation of the human spirit up to the heavenly realms where the Divine Author of beauty dwells. Music is more than just a hobby or a soundtrack playing in the background of our lives. Music is an intentional leisure activity full of possibilities for singers and seekers alike to recreate and experience a foretaste of joy, love, hope, grace, and harmony. As we rethink our relationships today, may we remind ourselves of the power of creating and recreating music together for the sake of harmony within ourselves and with one another. Music, the art of togetherness, illuminates the true, the good, and the beautiful in our relationships—relationship to self, to others, and to God. In music, we belong. Through music, we discover our own inner sanctuary as well as the inner sanctuaries in others—the sanctuary where God is made present.

About the Author

B.J. Gonzalvo, Ph.D., is an organizational psychologist who spends his “leisure” time as a guitarist, choir singer, listener, and worship leader facilitating the “recreation” of joy, love, hope, and togetherness. Through his journey as a psychologist, a musician, and a spiritual seeker, Gonzalvo distills music’s transcendent power to move us, elevate our worship, and transform our lives, our relationships, and our society. Gonzalvo is the author of several books including Lead Like the Saints (Paulines Publishing) and Gift of Kapwa: The Sacredness of Our Togetherness. He writes and reflects from the beautiful Pacific Northwest on matters of faith, spirituality, culture, and psychology.