Play By Heart

Have you ever played a musical instrument, maybe in junior or senior high? Marching band, even? Come one, admit it! You were in the Marching Band weren't you? (Confession: I was. And it was cool.)

If someone gave you that particular instrument today, would you be able to pick it up and play it like you once have?

When I was a little girl, my hippie mom dabbled on the guitar and I loved to hear her strum "Country Roads, Take Me Home" or "Leaving On A Jet Plane" - both hits by John Denver. If I should by chance hear either of those songs today, I'm immediately ushered back to the mid 1970's, wearing the tie-dyed T-shirt "dress" my aunt Jill made me. Music is awesome that way. I admired my mom so much that I wanted to play the guitar. And I did. I learned how to play "Grandma's Feather Bed" by John Denver...remember that one?

A little later in life, (as a jr.hi kid) I wanted to play in the school band. We didn't have money to purchase an instrument so my mom checked with the band director and they had an old tenor saxophone laying around and offered it to me. That thing was bigger than I was! But I learned to play and I fell in love with it. It was a good instrument for me, I had (well, still have) a horrifying singing voice - with the sax, I didn't have to sing! The world rejoiced!

I entered high school and with that came marching band. I was so uncoordinated - trying to play AND count my steps at the same time! (Another confession: most of the time, I pretended to play while marching because I would rather stay in formation!) Then we moved to a new school and they didn't have a saxophone for me. That was the end of my instrumental journey.

About six years ago, a friend of mine was selling his alto saxophone for a drop dead price. I had to have it! I brought it home and waited for a day when the house was empty. I was surprised at how hard it was to make a sound, other than sounding like the squeal of a duck in distress. I figured playing an instrument was like riding a bike. Just hop on and you are rolling. Yeah, that wasn't the case.

I purchased a "Playing the Sax for Dummies" book and some of it came back, s l o w l y. Then I picked up a song book with tunes I know from church. One was really simple, only a few notes (chords? I don't know the lingo) - it is "I Love You Lord." I practiced and practiced that one song and got to the place where I could play it from memory. Play by heart. Now I know what that means...

One day, after my family left the house to run errands, I pulled out my alto sax and played "I Love You Lord" over and over...as I closed my eyes and gently blew air over the reed, pressing the right pads with my fingers - that song came from my heart - and it was the most amazing worship experience I've ever had. I felt God's smile at me as I sang to Him through the tones of my instrument. His presence was intimately profound. Tears streamed down my cheeks as I continued to play "I Love You Lord" until I couldn't play any longer because I broke down and sobbed right there in His embrace.

Can I play the saxophone? No, not really. Gordon or Chris won't be asking me to join the worship team, that's for sure. But can I play for fun, or to connect with Jesus? Absolutely. Of all the times I've ever played, even in school when I was good at it, meeting with Him through a few well placed notes that I play by heart - that has the most meaning. To me, anyhow. And I believe it means a lot to Him as well.

Spend some time using your creativity, being mindful of your Creator ~ and meet with Him as you play by heart. Grace & Peace...