The distinct 24-note graceful and grieving bugle call known as Taps has stirred deep feelings of sadness, sorrow, and sting in most, if not all, of us. Members of the U.S. military salute from the first note to the last while remembering
those who gave their lives in the service of the United States. At the same time, nearby civilians often place their hand over their heart as a sign of respect and reverence.
Also, members of the military may hear on occasion the bugler play the reflective notes of Taps at night on their base
as a call to a day's end. In the United States, members of the public often hear the contemplative notes of Taps during the holidays of Memorial Day and Veterans Day. The meditative notes of Taps are also often heard during commemorative times such as the Normandy Landings during World War II also known as D-Day, which was recently the case during the seventy-fifth commemoration of D-Day this past week.
The Spiritual Sounds of Taps
Our spiritual nature is increasingly heightened while listening to Taps. Such heightening, however, increases as the notes of Taps decreases. A note is the pitch and duration of a sound. The bugle call starts out on its strongest notes and slowly diminishes in volume. It is a ceremonial call that sounds increasingly distant as the notes become progressively subdued. It is a contemplative call that fades in sound but deepens in reflection.
As the sound fades more and more, Taps reaches its final note of resignation that leaves the listener in a tranquil state of repose likely evidenced by meditative thoughts and feelings that may be pierced by the still small voice of the Spirit.
Thus, Taps can easily end with you in the midst of an intimate experience with God yearning to hear divine words such "as a mother comforts her child, so will I comfort you (Isaiah 66.13)" and craving to be cradled in the arms of God for it is written that "The eternal God is your refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms (Deut. 33.27)."
However, the following is also written in the scriptures concerning next steps:
"Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God. (2 Corinthians 1. 3 - 4)."
