I did a bit of self-reflection lately vis-a-vis music...and let's just say I went a little too far. Too far in the sense that I became unsure of what "good" I'm really doing with my music. As always, I kept my heart's turbulence inside.
In the meantime, a dear friend and fellow musician wrote the following. It did not "boost my ego"--if you read it closely and understand why he wrote it, you would not read it as common flattery either. This reminded me again of why I play.
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"A Musical Inspiration" - Jordan L. Rivera
There's an old saying that goes "a wise man hears one word, and understands two."
When I first read that, it caught me by surprise. I tried to think of how in the world it could be true. I hear one word, I get one word. Now I thought, maybe they the old proverb is talking about similes. You hear the word "beautiful" and think "beautiful" and "gorgeous".
I learned Sunday that’s not what it means. However, there is a twist. It wasn't words I heard, it was notes. The occasional Bb or, F #, maybe even an E. However, it wasn't just notes I heard. There was something more. Something attached to those notes. I heard words. With each note played, there was a word attached to it.
With each sweet melody there was a phrase, a statement that my soul needed to hear. It pierced through my heart into my most inner being. It was then that it became clear to me. You can hear 1 thing, but get 2.
I owe a great deal of thanks to someone for being the tool that God has called her to be. I don’t know much about her life, but I do know that, while the world told her one thing, God made another thing happen. When doctors told her she’d be weak, God still used her for his glory. She is a living testimony and verses like Psalm 118:14 (“The LORD is my strength and my song; he has become my salvation.”) live through her.
I know the Lord is her song. I heard it on Sunday. She is the one who played those notes that had those words attached. Her story of strength was played into my ears in a way that I have never experience before. I learned so much about music in what seemed to me, a short 8 measures.
Yi-Ting Chiang, the strongest warrior I know, a person who exudes God’s grace. I know it’s Jesus’ who plays through her, and I hope one day, he’ll play through me.
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Reflections on volunteering with Musicians On Call
2 comments:
I remember when I heard you play that one time at Barnard for a joint CSFC/ IV event, and when you played (i think it was "as the deer") I honestly felt something inside, like calming grace. It was beautiful. =)
Thanks for the kind words! That time playing at Barnard was very special to me...it began this whole playing-to-encourage mission in my life. I feel blessed to hear that you were part of it :)
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