Who likes musical numbers? I do!! When I hear a good piece, I feel the spirit speak to my soul in ways that words sometimes just can't reach on their own. I am moved to places of the spiritual realm that I can't reach without music.
This morning while singing in our ward choir, I could hear we were out of tune. I wasn't sure where it was coming from. I didn't know if it was me who was out of tune, or a section of us. All I know was that there was a disconnect in the music. In stead of being in harmony, we were out of sync. And I didn't like it. I didn't like the way it made me feel. It made me feel like I missed the mark. That I was so close and yet so far away at the same time.
In music there are many things that can cause you to be out of tune. There are factors that are out of our control such as temperature and age of the instrument. But there are more factors that are within our control such as the person performing - experience of performing and experience with the instrument itself. Watching Hunter over the years learn how to play the cello I'm learning that being out of tune can be as simple as the direction of the bow on the string.
We all prefer to hear musical numbers that are in tune. I much prefer going to the symphony over a Jr high orchestra concert. Why? Because I know that my ears are going to enjoy the piece of music being played. (haha!!) But also, I know that more than likely I will be moved to want to improve my life because of how good the performance is.
Isn't this the same for people? I'm naturally drawn to follow and be inspired by those who are more in tune with the Lord than those who are not.
Are we striving to always being in tune with the Lord?
How often do we find ourself out of tune?
When we are, can you feel it? Can you hear it?
We have pushed Hunter to bear his testimony through music. It isn't perfect, but he is working hard at improving that talent the Lord gave him. He picked an arrangement of Come Thou Font of Every Blessing to play in sacrament meeting today. The other day I asked him why he chose this particular piece. He responded with "It just spoke to me."
I linked a youtube version in the title. Hunter wouldn't let me use his recording because he is still learning to accept his performances as good.
Come Thou Font of Every Blessing
"Come thou fount of every blessingTune my heart to sing thy grace
Streams of mercy never ceasing
Call for songs of loudest praise
Teach me some melodious sonnet
Sung by flaming tongues above
I'll praise the mount I'm fixed upon it
Mount of thy redeeming love
Here I raise my Ebenezer
Hither by thy help I come
And I hope by thy good pleasure
Safely to arrive at home
Jesus sought me when a stranger
Wondering from the fold of God
He, to rescue me from danger
Interposed His precious blood
O to grace how great a debtor daily I'm constrained to be!
Let thy goodness like a fetter, bind my wandering heart to thee
Prone to wander Lord I feel it, prone to leave the God I love
Here's my heart, O take and seal it, seal it for thy courts above "
I began to ponder this song in my heart.
What was it that spoke to Hunter?
What can this song teach me?
How can it strengthen my testimony this week?
I've thought about what does it mean to give my heart to Christ. I've thought about tuning my heart to sing His grace. And all week I've struggled to know what that looks like for me personally.
On Tuesday of this week, Hunter was getting particularly frustrated with one part of the song. He was struggling to hit the notes the way he wanted when the piano was accompanying him. He felt defeated! I felt prompted to share with him the power of grace. That Christ's grace is there for moments like this. All he can do is give his all - and most of the time our all won't be perfect. But we can turn in prayer and ask Christ to make up the difference in that moment. And guess what, He will!!
I've been worried for Hunter since Tuesday night. I was stressed for him because I know he wants to play well. But I also know how hard he's been working on this piece to bear his testimony through music to the ward. Before church I said a silent prayer in my heart that Hunter would allow grace to make up for his weaknesses in the piece and allow those listening to have their testimony strengthened.
Church started and the first speaker spoke of an experience she had in her life of fighting against something the Lord wanted her to do. Her fight with the Lord lead to a path of a lot of anxiety. Then she decided to turn it over to the Lord. When she did she was able to move forward with Christ. She said she did not fly alone that day, she had someone with her. That person was Christ!
Then Hunter and Gabe performed. As I heard him hit the notes that he had been struggling with the tears began to role down my cheek. That is "tuning our heart to sing His grace". Trusting Christ to make up the difference is tuning our hearts. My heart began swell and sing - "Here's my heart, O take and seal it..." In that moment of their performance, I was able to draw closer to the Lord. I was able to feel his grace in my life through my son and his struggles.
I learned that the only way to be in tune with God is THROUGH Christ!! Without Christ we will always be slightly off key. There will always be things in and out of our control that will pull us naturally from God. But when we give our heart to him, when we say that silent prayer asking for Him to make up for our weaknesses, we can be and will always be in tune!! And when we are in tune with God we will be able of bless the lives of those around us.
Comments