Every Wednesday afternoon I drive to our church in town to meet Diamond for our piano lesson. She is a bright eyed, bubbly nine year old girl with a passion for music who pestered me until I agreed to teach her piano. Her enthusiasm is infectious and we have such fun sitting side by side on the piano bench as we learn together.
This Sunday we will play a duet for the offertory, Deck the Halls with Boughs of Holly. Originally scheduled for an Advent worship, a heavy snowfall cancelled church so we are a little late in schedule but right on time for Diamond. At the end of worship, we will sing the jazzy version of “Amen” and Diamond asked to play the African drum along with the piano. We practiced getting the beat and she is ready to roll. Her little sister Angel wants to play along on the other drum so we will have two drummer girls for that song. What fun!
As I sit by Diamond, I time travel. Fifty years ago another little girl sat by her teacher enthralled, entranced by the world of music in the piano. The pianist at our church welcomed me into the world of sacred music and gave me a place to share my love for God through the piano. She taught me her tricks of the trade and gave me room to grow by sharing her seat on the piano bench. And now, it is time for me to pass on what was given to me all those years ago. It is pure joy to be able to give Diamond this gift.
Diamond is talented and has that ineffable “feel” for music that is not learned but innate. I can give her a good foundation in the basics, a place to share her talent as she participates in worship, and help her find her musical voice. But she will outgrow me at some point and need more than I know if she continues to take lessons. The one thing I can give her that will never leave her is the gift of understanding what she is feeling, understanding that will help her find her joy in the piano and music.
At sixty four, I know a little about life. Some of my life lessons were painful and others were joyful. It is a gift for me to be able to give back, to share with Diamond one of my greatest joys in life, music. For the teacher as well as the student, important lessons are learned in this kind of sharing. I am learning again the lesson of hope, joyful anticipation.
Every Wednesday, Diamond comes to me, her face lit up with the pleasure of learning new songs and playing for me what she has practiced the week before. My soul lights up as I show her how to play the scales a new way, a way that makes her fingers stumble while she learns how to use them on the piano. “I’ll do this right next week, Miss Peggy”, she says, grinning up at me. And, she will. Next week we will begin learning a hymn from the hymn book, music far above her current capabilities. We will work along and by Easter, she will be ready to play that hymn for worship.
I will have paid my debt to Mrs. Drew and Mrs. Davis. But I am also indebted to Diamond for giving me the opportunity to share this gift of mine with her. Like the old priest Eli and the young boy Samuel, we will see what God can make of us, what use we can be to the kingdom of God on earth, and give thanks for the possibilities. In the meantime, Diamond and I will be singing “I’ve Got the Joy, Joy, Joy, Joy Down in my Heart” as we take lessons together every Wednesday at Calvary Presbyterian. Thanks be to God.
Saturday, January 29, 2011
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
Here I raise My Ebenezer
I played the Bible game this morning and as it often does, the Bible fell open to an inconvenient place. The passage was in Hebrews and the topics are purification, sacrifice and the New Covenant none of which are hot topics in modern life. There was a lengthy discussion of priests, temples, purification procedures, sacrifices and lots of blood... LOTS of blood. The writer of Hebrews was creating a theological argument using the religious context of his day for Christ as the ultimate sacrifice, the final offering of blood shed for sins. There would be no more need for goats and calves, doves and heifers to be killed after Christ’s death and resurrection.
Blood sacrifices... how does this have any meaning for us? Most of us live in cities and towns far removed from the bloody realities of living close to nature. We do not find half eaten chickens in our yards or see the bloody patch on the pond ice where a duck has been killed by a predator. Our steaks and fish come wrapped and cleaned with none of the messiness that accompanies blood sacrifice. Consequently, we eat mindlessly without gratitude for the gift of life that comes at the expense of life.
Parents know the meaning of blood sacrifice. The first time you hold your child, the love that springs into being would let you lay down your life for this other person. And, you do lay down your life over and over again as you struggle through nights without sleep, fearful unexplained fevers, trips to the emergency room, more sleepless nights as they become teen drivers, presence and protection even as they grow up and leave your home.
My dad lived for two years after his illness was diagnosed because others gave blood for his transfusions. Once a month, then every two weeks he received the gift of life, fresh blood, offered by others as a necessary sacrifice.
One of my favorite hymns is “Come, Thou Fount”. The second verse, often a source of giggles and glee among the children of the church, provides assurance and a call for me. “Here I raise my Ebenezer, Hither by Thy help I’m come; And I hope, by Thy good pleasure, Safely to arrive at home. Jesus sought me when a stranger, Wand’ring from the fold of God; He, to rescue me from danger, Interposed his precious blood.”
Since Jesus laid down his life for me, I must lay down my life for others. My blood sacrifice is shaped by the gifts I have been given and the skills I have learned. It can be inconvenient, messy, painful, joyful, life giving and faithful, but it is the breath of life for my soul. Without sacrifice, the shedding of my own blood, no new life can come into being. So I show up in the places with the people to whom I am called. I listen, like the boy Samuel, to hear God calling my name leading me to a particular service. And, I give thanks for the Fount of Blessing who tunes my heart to sing grace, binds my wandering heart with love and calls me to offer myself, to lay down my life for others. May it be so, please, Lord?
Blood sacrifices... how does this have any meaning for us? Most of us live in cities and towns far removed from the bloody realities of living close to nature. We do not find half eaten chickens in our yards or see the bloody patch on the pond ice where a duck has been killed by a predator. Our steaks and fish come wrapped and cleaned with none of the messiness that accompanies blood sacrifice. Consequently, we eat mindlessly without gratitude for the gift of life that comes at the expense of life.
Parents know the meaning of blood sacrifice. The first time you hold your child, the love that springs into being would let you lay down your life for this other person. And, you do lay down your life over and over again as you struggle through nights without sleep, fearful unexplained fevers, trips to the emergency room, more sleepless nights as they become teen drivers, presence and protection even as they grow up and leave your home.
My dad lived for two years after his illness was diagnosed because others gave blood for his transfusions. Once a month, then every two weeks he received the gift of life, fresh blood, offered by others as a necessary sacrifice.
One of my favorite hymns is “Come, Thou Fount”. The second verse, often a source of giggles and glee among the children of the church, provides assurance and a call for me. “Here I raise my Ebenezer, Hither by Thy help I’m come; And I hope, by Thy good pleasure, Safely to arrive at home. Jesus sought me when a stranger, Wand’ring from the fold of God; He, to rescue me from danger, Interposed his precious blood.”
Since Jesus laid down his life for me, I must lay down my life for others. My blood sacrifice is shaped by the gifts I have been given and the skills I have learned. It can be inconvenient, messy, painful, joyful, life giving and faithful, but it is the breath of life for my soul. Without sacrifice, the shedding of my own blood, no new life can come into being. So I show up in the places with the people to whom I am called. I listen, like the boy Samuel, to hear God calling my name leading me to a particular service. And, I give thanks for the Fount of Blessing who tunes my heart to sing grace, binds my wandering heart with love and calls me to offer myself, to lay down my life for others. May it be so, please, Lord?
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