The combined bands playing the grand finaleTuesday night we had the privilege of going to our daughter Anna's band concert. She plays the Saxaphone, and this year the 5th graders got to play in the Middle and High School Christmas Concert. Each grade was featured, using combined bands from all three elementary schools, as well as the Middle School and High School ensembles.
But the grand finale was when the High School drum majors came marching in, climbed up on their ladders and blew their whistles. The entire Pine-Richland High School band then marched in, surrounding all the younger bands who were seated in the center of the gym. They all played the final song together. It was incredible, and a "larger-than-life" experience for Anna.
It reminded me, though, of a comment that was made by one of our students, Kyle. He had been reading in Romans 6:13, when the concept of being "instruments of God" really struck him. He described us as being musical instruments who should be constantly walking around playing the beautiful song of the gospel through the way we live. Then, as the Holy Spirit allows, the lost people around us will hear the strange and lovely music, and be drawn to it. We are to be a living testimony, playing beautiful music.
My heart felt like it would burst as the music from all of these amazing children just filled up the room. But suddenly I heard a horn (probably a tuba) miss the part. It's blaring notes stuck out against the smooth background of the other musicians. And for one second it ruined the harmony and beauty of the song.
I thought about our lives, those times when we are tempted to play our own tune and draw attention to ourselves. Those individual notes sound blaring and dissonant against the smooth unity of the rest of the orchestra. When we take our eyes off the conducter, and begin to do our own thing, our song is not so beautiful anymore because it doesn't fit in with the leading of the conducter.
My prayer is that our eyes will be so closely focused on our conducter, that we will be able to play beautifully synchronized music harmoniously together.
1 comment:
I love the way that you connected Anna's concert and the musicians playing together with the concept that we are "instruments of God." For some reason I had never thought of that verse in terms of musical instruments, but instead as tools or implements. But it makes perfect sense to think of instruments in a musical sense as well, because we as believers will be in perfect harmony if we focus on God and follow His leading. As you well know, that harmony is sorely lacking in the church today, and all the world hears is disjointed screeching and squawking.
BTW, that tuba you heard miss the note was probably me doing my own thing. :) And with your permission, I may steal this story to use as an illustration sometime (although if I have permission, I guess it's not stealing).
Post a Comment