Music Extravaganza!

I am a music lover.  I am not skilled in producing music, but I love to be surrounded by music.  I think my favorite genre is jazz, and I am really excited about the music of Nat King Cole.  I am, however, really explosive about live concerts.  I do not get to go often enough to my thinking.  A few weeks ago I went to a Hakase Taro concert in our town with my family.  We live in a smaller town, and just the fact he came to perform here was amazing.  Hakase Taro is a world class violinist and composer.  Maybe even more amazing is that we got to go to the concert. 

Dad got tickets months beforehand.  We looked forward to this a long time.  One always worries with so much anticipation if there will be a let down at the actual event.  This concert began about the time I wind down for the night.  Maybe I would sleep through it all.  That would be a waste.  This was a senseless worry.  Mr. Taro is a master showman.  He surrounded himself with other first class musicians in a band that played with him.  Each of them probably could have performed a magnificent concert on their own.  This concert had humor, class, dance, lights, as well as wonderful music. As the concert closed, the audience was on its feet dancing along.  Music and lights were exploding about the auditorium.  The band did a fantastic dance.  Then some picked up their instruments and danced while playing them.  This was especially spectacular as the cellist played and danced with his cello.  We did not want it to end.  They played two encores.  I wished it had been more.  The final song was a gentle song written by Hakase Taro for those affected by the disaster.  I especially liked his verbal reminder that there is still much to be done in restoring that area to health.  His song, “A Smile for You” touched my heart.  

I got home far past bedtime, but sleep was elusive as the strains of music and sights of that concert played in my mind.  What a fantastic extravaganza I had beheld.  It still evokes a vivid memory. 

Hey, Dad, when is the next concert? 

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fCnGx-GuJM4

(Take listen!)

Dance With All My Might

I am glad God gave us many forms of worship.  For me singing just does not express my praise.  I certainly understand the words, and would love to sing them, but my body does not get the job done.  I have to work so hard to get the right word at the right time on the right note.  By that time the group has long since moved to another verse, or even stopped singing altogether. That leaves me frustrated, and sometimes embarrassed.  It is not adequate to express my praise. 

Then there is dancing.  I do not dance beautifully, or even gracefully.  However, I dance wholeheartedly unto the Lord.  I use my whole body to express my praise.  What I feel in my heart bursts forth in body movement.  During the music at a worship service, I need space to participate.  I may look strange, but I am expressing my heart to the Lord.  Really it is between God and me.  If you want to watch you may, but I am just praising God the best way I know how.  I am letting my body give expression to what is bursting out of my heart.

 I participate in a Gospel Choir.  I occasionally get a word out, but mostly I dance and give forth some shouts along the way.  I let my body unite with the words of the song to lift up the name of Jesus.  David danced with all his might.  I want to do that.  Sometimes we do not have adequate means to exalt the Lord.  Words are not enough.  Even dance is not enough.  Yet while we live in the finite we must do the best we can with our limited resources.  Just wait, though!  The day is coming when we will get new bodies.  Those new bodies will be capable of incredible praise.  That is worth dancing about!

Riding for Jesus

As many of you know, I love to ride horses.  I am best at having them run.  Friday it was cool and crisp, but sunny.  A perfect day for riding!  My instructor was a new fellow, but I like him.  He was waiting for me when I arrived like he could not wait to start.  He is a combination of strict and gentle.  He let me run that horse a lot.  He said most people never get the rhythm of running a horse, but my body just knew what to do.  How many times has that been said about me?  “Never” would be a word that comes to mind.  I struggle with balance and coordination and spacial awareness.  These do not add up to a body that naturally knows what to do on a running horse.  However, that instructor was not just being polite.  He was looking at me with admiration and with awe.  He had me run the horse more than usual.  I think it was because he delighted to see me ride.  It felt good.  I was really happy. 

As I have thought about this I realize that the God who made me and made this horse instilled that rhythm in us.  He prepared us for this.  I have gained the admiration and respect of this trainer.  God set it all up even before I was born.  Now I must be faithful to God’s call.  I must be steadfast in the work of not only delighting this young man with my riding skills, but also showing him the path to delight in Jesus.  How will I do this?  I will be obedient to God.  I will consciously strive to reflect the love of Jesus at every lesson.  I will be a Christ follower who is submitted to my task.  Most important I will be a channel for God to offer His miracle of redemption to this man.  That is even more exhilarating than running on a horse!