This weekend, Iattended 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 Chopin’s and Bach’s all dressed inthe proper orchestra attire of black skirts/pants and whitetops with their instrument of choice under tow, and a bright red velvetribbon 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 theyever-so-diplomatically jockey around each other for the right spot to set up theirvideo 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 thefront row of the balconysowe can watchmy niece Claire play her violinwith theVivace 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 theVivace group which is only one level below the highest that can be attained.
Claire’swillingness to follow the conductor’s 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 Claire’s very unique one-liners that somehow perfectly frame what’s happening at the moment. And… on occasion… get her into trouble. Not becauseClaire is trying to be difficult, but because she just can’t help herself.It’s as if abrilliant 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 I’m talking about, I’ll share one suchexample:
We were in Atlanta, visiting my grandfather and a tornado watch was in effect.Katherine, Claire’s 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 andeat a cupcake.”
Keep calm and eat a cupcake.
In Claire’s way of thinking, you can’t stop the storm, you are huddled ina room completely powerless to the elements around you, and fretting over the rain and wind isn’t 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 isn’t so much that Claire doesn’t want to do or follow what everyone else is doing, it’s just that she can usually think of a moreunique, and in 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 conductor’s lead. Here are two short video explanations from Clairethat explain:
So it is with us in this great orchestra of life. Shakespeare said “all the world’s a stage, and we are merely players”; but, in truth, we are God’s workmanship fitly framed together and were knit in our mother’s womb by the Creator of the Universe to fulfill a very specific purpose. To play a very specific role. To follow the musical score thatChrist has prepared uniquely for us.
But all of it hinges on our willingness to follow the conductor’s lead.
God’s 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.To respond to Him in a manner that allows us to fulfill our life’s purpose. A purpose that He thought of and prepared before we were ever born. (Psalm 139)
Godput 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 help us know just when to play our instrument fast or slow or to rest. Just like in a musical score.
And sometimes, if we aren’t 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, let’s please make sure that we fully understand that if we truly want to become the instrument that God created us to be, we 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 conductor’s lead gone for you this week?
You’re right, I did enjoy this post 🙂 You could add so much to this topic. For example: The conductor is the conductor for a reason…he knows the whole score, and how it should go. You wouldn’t let just anybody from the audience step up onto the stage and try and lead the orchestra, right? Same thing with God. He’s the conductor of this whole piece of music called Life, we need to let Him conduct the way the piece should go. And us who play a part in the orchestra, even though we may look like the conductor (and even have similar apparel as him), we’re still not in his position. All we’ve been given as musicians, is our own part to play. And yes, we do make mistakes sometimes, and play the wrong notes…but that’s why the conductor has given us himself, teachers, and fellow musicians to help us hone and learn our parts. I’m sorry Sis. Goff, but you’ve got me going on this one haha. Thank you 🙂
Awesome thoughts Mike! And you are so right! Oh my, my mind is spinning with ideas on this topic. Like what you said about “not just any conductor”… yet sometimes people follow the totally wrong god, not the one that’s the real conductor at all! Yes, this post is birthing a book idea in me… Mike, please keep joining the conversation! Your comments add a lot!