Predictable or Unpredictable
Ever since my grandson, Payton (now 18), was just a little guy he’s loved playing the piano. It started with my husband who could play anything but loved Christian music and jazz. “Little” Payton jumped on the piano bench to plunk out notes while Papa played. The first song Papa taught him was “Chopsticks”. He learned those one-finger-at-a-time-notes that were easy-peasy and Papa would play the full chords that were in-sync with Payton’s one-finger notes. “Chopsticks” was called “Chopsticks” for a reason. It was choppy and predictable.
I’ll admit it’s comfortable for life to be predictable. Every time Papa would sit down at the piano, it wasn’t long before Payton wanted to play more and learn more. It was such a beautiful tribute to my husband’s life as his mentor, teacher, and beloved “Papa” when Payton played “Fur Elise”at Papa’s funeral. All were in awe at that 10-year-old boy who was fearless and well-trained, to play for such a large crowd with absolute perfection.
Today, Payton not only loves to play the piano, he’s a piano teacher. Yesterday I went to their home for lunch and as so often heard in their home, was music-to-my-ears as I walked to their front door. Payton was playing some jazz music – one of Papa’s favorites. I knew he was serenading me. Yesterday would have been our 52nd wedding anniversary. Jazz music is unlike the predictable notes of a memorized song like “Chopsticks” or “Fur Elise”. Jazz music is unpredictable. A jazz pianist will just “flow”. Their emotions are translated into beautiful innovative riffs, cool tones, and complex rhythms.
Jazz is an effective way to describe discipleship. We like to know what’s expected of us and we like to know the how-to’s, the when-to’s and where-to’s — like the notes and simplicity of a song like “Chopsticks”, but a jazz musician will just sit down at their instrument and play from their heart and soul. Life is so unpredictable and we want someone to teach us everything we need to know, but we simply can’t know everything. Our faith journey is about preparing for the unpredictable and then going with the flow of that beautiful music that is playing on the inside that comes from a heart full of faith and trust in God’s flow.
I heard that listening to jazz music has benefits for our health. The rhythms can bring natural relief for mind and body. Studies show that just 45 minutes of soft, slow music like jazz before bedtime results in better and longer night-time sleep as well as less dysfunction during the day. It also reduces the intensity of migraine headaches and reduces chronic pain. No wonder that King Saul’s tormented soul was soothed when David played his harp for him. “Whenever the spirit from God troubled Saul, David would play the harp. Then relief would come to Saul; he would feel better, and the evil spirit would leave him.” 1 Samuel 16:23.
In the atrium of the Cancer Treatment Center in Tulsa was a beautiful grand piano. Even though in tremendous pain, before my sweetheart would go in for treatment, he would somehow muster up the strength, while sitting in his wheelchair, and draw a crowd as he played the piano which relaxed him for the treatment up ahead.
Honestly, this post is far more important than styles-of-music. Of course, we live our lives with necessary routines. But it is also about living our lives with an absolute abandonment of worry and stress and tension to free-flowing in God’s grace and mercy, knowing that whatever music we’re playing or life circumstances we’re living with, being completely aware that our great Teacher and Lord is sitting at the piano bench with us 24/7. Whatever song we’re playing, He’ll be in-sync with us – making our lives a symphony of harmony and beauty when we go with His flow!