Withholding Applause
I don’t remember a time I didn’t want to be a pianist. My home was full of music, everything from Porter Wagner to Richard Wagner. I had grand dreams and ‘illusions/delusions’ of fame and fortune with my talent and stage presence. Please grant me grace though, I was only 4 and 5 years old.
Piano lessons began about the age of six. I hated practicing the rudiments that might have led to proficient technique and tonal agility. Instead I had my favorite little songs that drove everyone to ear tears. Mom and dad threatened me with ‘last lessons.’ But each Saturday morning off I’d go to my patient tutor, lumber through my unpracticed assignments and return home promising to do better in the coming week.
Well, the rule of piano lesson etiquette is; If you take lessons, you participate in spring recital. I planned to perform one of my favored little ditties but my teacher and my mother were of another opinion. Mom advised that the song I was rehearsing was not the piece on the printed program. I begged to differ. She conceded with the sound warning that I should at least take the sheet music in question just in case. I assured her there was no need, I had it under control.
This is not a mystery novel so you know what happen. I should have gone ahead and played the music I knew but I made a valiant effort to execute from memory a piece I never even practiced with any enthusiasm. IT…….WAS……AWFUL!!!!! In the end I just got up and left the stage to the weak cadence of pity applause. Everyone clapped but my little sister.
Following the afternoon’s final performance everyone gathered in the fellowship hall of the hosting church for a brief reception honoring the aspiring musicians. It was there amid the “God Bless You,” pats and the “No one even noticed” encouragements that my father shared my younger sister’s response to my shame, “I ain’t clappin’ for that!”
Gayle has never seen the need to state anything but the obvious and that day I began my maiden voyage on a journey of deep theology and respect for the power and security in truth. Gayle is my truth speaker and everyone should find themselves one as great as mine.
In John 14:5-6 Thomas the doubter is worried about finding his way after his friend and teacher leaves. Jesus’ response is, “I am the Way, I am the Truth and I am the Life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.”
Truth is a noun. It is not a word to describe a noun. This is big! Truth is the main idea, not a colorful way to enhance the main idea! Jesus is the Truth, God is the Truth. It is a normal phenomenon that history gets rewritten and revised to tailor fit man’s perspective. Some of it is acceptable human error, but more of it is man’s deliberate effort to control and manipulate his own world. When this occurs……man just named himself god. That’s dangerous ground folks.
Many years ago my precious little sister withheld her applause and when my dad humorously retold the episode a flood of peace fell upon me. Somebody was brave enough to tell me I did terribly and I was strong enough to handle it. Truth is power. Find it, remain in it and rest in it.
Love,
Gretchen