“When the Father sends the Advocate as my representative—that is, the Holy Spirit—he will teach you everything and will remind you of everything I have told you. I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid.” (John 14:26-27 NLT)
Stained-glass-tinted slivers of sunlight bounced off the shiny black-lacquered baby grand. Parents and grandparents scurried into the sanctuary like ants on a kicked-up ant hill. Boys with comb-marked hair and girls with ribbons and bows took their places in the front two pews. Soon, they’d play tunes to prove they had paid attention to their teacher over the past year. The younger ones went first.
As each student made their way to the front to bow, the teacher adjusted the bench and footrest so each child felt secure and confident. Because the younger students hadn’t yet learned to use their left hand, the teacher slid beside them, wrapped her arm around them, and played the accompanying chords. It was easy to see that the students had grown accustomed to their teacher’s nearness and to her soft whispers meant only for their ears. Together, they played sweet, sweet music.
Although well prepared, many students felt the audience’s gaze and seemed slightly distracted. (Why do we let the fear of failure occasionally steal our focus?) If a little finger plinked the wrong note, the teacher slowed, giving the student time to recover. After letting the last note linger for a count or two, the child stood, bowed again, and grinned with accomplishment.
It was clear that the older students had spent many years learning the elements of making good music. Fortunately, they had spent enough time with the teacher that her soft whispers had become internalized. She sat close by, offering reassurance with her mere presence as students’ fingers moved with ease through the longer memorized pieces. The teacher had taught them well.
One could sense the moment when the students’ distractions faded, and their hearts and souls were lost in the music. Their focus shifted from merely playing a string of correct notes for an audience to offering a melodic flow that enticed listeners to pay attention. When the teacher’s last student stood and bowed, her face revealed the joy she felt, knowing they had all listened and learned well.
When Jesus, our Teacher, calls us home, His face will surely beam with joy. Perhaps He will recall the times He’s wrapped His arms around us and played the chords we couldn’t play ourselves, chords we needed to hear to carry us through another day. Maybe He will smile, knowing the gift of His Spirit has been the music within us, quietly whispering personalized instructions meant only for our ears. Hopefully, He will feel our immense gratitude for the many adjustments He made for us when we didn’t even know what to adjust. Thankfully, we will have all eternity to praise Him for drowning out our distractions with the new song He placed within us.
Thank you, Jesus, for giving us your Spirit, who doesn’t flinch at our wrong notes, but leans in closer. “Your own ears will hear him. Right behind you a voice will say, ‘This is the way you should go,’ whether to the right or to the left.” (Isaiah 30:12 NLT)
Before Jesus calls us home, may we all offer up the new song of praise we’ve been given so that many will want to listen and put their trust in the Lord. (Psalm 40:3) That will be sweet, sweet music to His ears!
