This weekend, I attended the Winter String Concert at Illinois State University in Normal, Illinois. The auditorium at The Center for Performing Arts was filled with hundreds of would-be Chopins and Bachs all dressed in the proper orchestra attire of black skirts/pants and white tops, with their instrument of choice under tow, and a bright red velvet ribbon tied to the end of some of their bows. In the pre-performance buzz, the parents and grandparents nod and cordially smile to each other as they ever-so-diplomatically jockey around each other for the right spot to set up their video cameras so as to get just the right angle to memorialize their star. The auditorium is filled with musicians of all ages. Some appear to be as young as 5 and others have graying at their temples. The young and old play together in the four separate performances that are scheduled. They are grouped, not by age, but by ability. Together with my brother and his wife, we take our places on the front row of the balcony so we can watch my niece Claire play her violin with the Vivace group . Claire has played the violin since she was 5-years-old, practicing daily, taking lessons, and joining three separate string groups so that her talent continues to develop. And although Claire is only 10-years-old, she has earned a chair in the Vivace group which is only one level below the highest that can be attained. Claires willingness to follow the conductors lead is something that amazes me. Especially for a 10 year-old, and extra-especially-so for my precious and precocious niece. You see Claire is one of those super-bright, ultra-talented kids that you know the minute you meet her that she will make a mark on her world one day. She is quick witted, super-sassy in a chic kind of way, and terrifically fun-loving. So much so that her mom tries to keep a running record of Claires very unique one-liners that somehow perfectly frame whats happening at the moment. And... on occasion... get her into trouble. Not because Claire is trying to be difficult, but because she just cant help herself. Its as if a brilliant remark bubbles to the surface of her mind and she simply has to blurt it out or explode. Just to give you an idea of what Im talking about, Ill share one such example: We were in Atlanta, visiting my grandfather and a tornado watch was in effect. Katherine, Claires older sister, was particularly concerned and I was comforting her by sitting next to her on the couch and putting my arm around her. Claire walks in the room, assesses the situation and says, Oh, keep calm and eat a cupcake. Keep calm and eat a cupcake. In Claires way of thinking, you cant stop the storm, you are huddled in a room completely powerless to the elements around you, and fretting over the rain and wind isnt going to make them stop beating against the house, so why not just keep calm and eat a cupcake. So as you can see, it isnt so much that Claire doesnt want to do or follow what everyone else is doing, its just that she can usually think of a more unique, and her mind, a better way, to approach it. Which brings me back to my initial point at how very remarkable it is to me that our swim-upstream-think-and-say-and-do- the exact-opposite-of-what-you-expect-me-to-Claire would see the value, and have the willingness to follow the conductors lead. But she does. Why? Because she wants to be the best violinist there ever was, and she understands that in order to do that she must, absolutely must, follow the conductors lead. ( I have attached video of Claire that explains.) And so it is with us in this great orchestra of life. Shakespeare said all the worlds a stage, and we are merely players, but in truth, we are Gods workmanship fitly framed together, and were knit in our mothers womb by the Creator the Universe to fulfill a very specific purpose. To play a very specific role. To follow the musical score that Christ has prepared uniquely for us. But all of it hinges on our willingness to follow the conductors lead. Gods lead first and foremost. And the lead of those that he has put in authority over us. God created us, so obviously He knows exactly what we need and what we do not need in order to become all that He wants us to become. He allows situations and circumstances in our lives to help us to grow and to learn. And to respond to Him in a manner that allows us to fulfill our lifes purpose. A purpose that He thought of and prepared before we were ever born. (Psalm 139) And God put leaders, and teachers and parents, and grandparents, in our lives to teach us, to guide us, to instruct us. To mold us and shape us, and to helps us know just when to play our instrument fast, or slow, or to rest. Just like in a musical score. And sometimes, if we arent careful, we can become precocious like Claire, and wiggle, and squirm, and say brilliant, out-of-the-box things that might shock or upend our loved ones. And of course, some of that is okay, and even endearing. But, lets please make sure that we fully understand that if we truly want to become the instrument that God created us to be, must learn to follow His lead and those that He has divinely placed in our lives. And he gave some, apostles, and some, prophets, and some evangelists, and some pastors, and some teachers... for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, ... (Ephesians 4:11-12) For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained what we should walk in them. (Ephesians 2:10) How has following the conductors lead gone for you this week?
Posted on: Tue, 16 Dec 2014 12:03:34 +0000
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