Weekly Greeting - May 10, 2024
Dear Bethlehem,
Noah Adams, the host of National Public Radio’s All Things Considered, was well known for his love of music. He even took time away from his radio program to write Piano Lessons, a journal of his lifelong desire to learn to play the piano. He quotes the celebrated piano teacher David Sudnow, who says, “Piano playing is the most failed-at social skill in the United States. There are 11 million unused pianos.” Adams goes onto to say that the number of unused pianos in our country points not only to the failed attempts of so many people to learn piano, but the deep seated desire in us all to make music.
I am so grateful for the gift of music. I know what it’s like to feel hesitant to sing or play music because we might be afraid we are not “good enough.”
Anytime I sing a song I can think of many others who could sing it “better than me;” but I also think of the words of Henry Van Dyke, who said, “The woods would be very silent if no birds sang but those who sang best.”
I also try to remember the words of the great composer, Gustav Mahler who said, “What is best about music is not to be found in the notes.” In other words, what is best about music, like most of life, is a mystery.
This past Saturday, I had the opportunity to sing at Cedar Creek Marina in Mt Juliet with some friends. As we got ready to make our way there, I put on a cross Stephanie gave me as a present.
I love to sing, and as excited as I was to be able to play music and perform; my being able to wear that cross was what was most important to me on that day. I truly believe that what is best about music is not found in the notes.
If there is an unused piano in your house, or some other unused musical instrument, I encourage you to find it, knock the dust off of it, and try again. I encourage you to come to church this Sunday ready to sing; even if you don’t think you are the best singer in the world, just think of how quiet the forest would be if only those birds sang who sing best!
Peace,
Craig
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This Sunday is the sixth Sunday of Easter as we continue our new worship series, “How Shall We Love?” Our text this week is Matthew 8: 18 -27.
One of the ways we can love each other is to encourage one another and point to God’s eternal kingdom which is greater than any kingdom on earth. God may not protect us from every storm, but God promises to be with us in every storm. God promises to never leave us or forsake us, to never abandon us, which is what Easter is really all about. See you Sunday!