recognising the melody

I've said it before, but I love Beethoven's "Moonlight" sonata. When visiting my parents recently I was delighted to find they had an adapted, easy version for playing on the piano.

I'm pretty useless at piano playing. When I say this, people seem to think I'm showing some false modesty - presumably due to all those who say they are useless when they are anything but useless.  Usually they can play twenty times better than me. Please note: there's a difference between not being able to play as opposed to not playing as well as you'd like. Claiming the former when you are actually the latter causes problems for us who are genuine strugglers.  After some to-and-froing - 'I bet you can play really', 'no, really I can't' (several times) I have to explain that I barely got further than grade 1 and even then never took any exams.  The piano can lie shut for months.  We have a piano because someone else didn't want it, not because I am any good at playing it.  I hope to play it. In order to learn an easy piece I have to play it over and over and over...and still make mistakes.

Nevertheless, in spite of my clumsiness, the fumblings, the wrong notes, the elongated notes of the right hand because I'm trying to think what to do with my left...I can still recognise Moonlight, and that makes me smile.

Is there an analogy here that needs unpacking?

Frequently in our lives we hit wrong notes.  We make mistakes.  We mess it all up in our attempts to be clever or because we're being inattentive.  We neglect to practise and then wonder why we can't play the tune.  But the tune is still there.   We are in the constant process of transformation. Sometimes we can think we are doing so well, and then something disastrous happens and we lose our thread completely.  Every day we begin again, with a sigh of relief that his mercies are 'new every morning'.

Every now and then, amid the stumbling and the fumbling, the over confidence and the giving up we recognise something - God's melody in our lives.  We can't yet play it perfectly, but that doesn't mean we shouldn't try.  For that spine tingling moment when the bit we get wrong most of the time we manage to play right.  For the times when we realise - there is some improvement there.

But always and always recognising grace.  That God still wants to hear our music, even if we haven't quite 'got it' yet.  Our fumbling attempts at loving and worshipping and living are all part of the transformation.

Don't stop playing.  One day you'll be part of the biggest orchestra ever known.




Image from stock.xcng

history makers

Delirious, a British Christian band with a dedicated fan base officially broke up last year, but this Easter has brought the possibility of their highest ever UK chart hit.  A facebook campaign, which started up with the aim of having a Christian song topping the charts at Easter now has over 60, 000 fans and on Good Friday the song (History Maker) was registering at 3 or 4 on the charts.  Aware of it for sometime, at first the idea of a campaign to 'invade' the charts was not quite in tune with my subtle approach to life - but the good humoured enthusiasm of the fans has, I have to say, won me over.  There is strong emphasis on showing integrity and respect at all times throughout the campaign.  Plus, all proceeds go to charity, which for me, means that campaigning can only be a good thing.

I have to say, History Maker was written over a decade ago, and I remember being in my teens, leaping about to the music at Delirious concerts...before they were as popular and you didn't squashed!!  (I remember being at Wembley Stadium when they played at 'Champion of the World', and wondering if I would reunite my arms and legs at some point.)  I remember, too, diligently going out and buying their singles - White Ribbon Day especially.  Of course, Deeper made it to no 20, but it seems there is no doubt that History Maker will go much further.

Yes, I have downloaded my 2 versions (studio and live) and look with interest as to whether they will get their 'number one' spot.  The campaigners have called for a 'Sabbath Saturday' today and are calling on fans to do no more promoting. So this is merely comment and not promotion, posted today as I wanted to leave Good Friday's post uncluttered.

Meanwhile...

Easter Saturday is the day of waiting, of breath-holding, of dark waiting for light.

Tomorrow, the Son rises.

music that resonates...

Do you have a particular piece of music that always evokes some feeling within you?

I have one - not particularly original as it's quite famous, but never mind. 

Beethoven's Piano Sonata No. 14. - aka "Moonlight". 

I can be reading, writing, travelling, washing up...not really paying much attention to the music gently playing in the background.  But then "Moonlight" starts playing.  However absorbed I am, it filters through and I look up and suddenly pause.  It makes immediate contact with something buried inside me.  I feel a rush of peace and happiness, and at the same time, a resonation with any sadness I might be feeling.  It always manages to find something in my mood to meet it - whether it's drawing me into a more peaceful state or meeting me in a place I can already be found. 

I have to take a breath, lean my head back and feel a rush of tingling emotion.  A reassuring familiarity and yet still with the capacity to freeze me in the moment. It's a sudden appearance of a beloved friend, if that's not too much hyperbole.

Then I carry on with what I'm doing, but I am properly listening to the music now, relishing its company.

I can't tell you why, but that's what it does to me.

I'd love to know if anyone else has that experience, and what piece of music evokes it.

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Illustration from stock.xchng