9stines- Merthiolate For The Christian Soul

This evening my daughter had a meeting at our church. I drove her there and was left with nothing to really do: that is except one of my favorite things in the world- play the church piano. Now understand that I am not a pianist. I am a guitarist. I love to go into the sanctuary when no one else is around and keep the lights off. There is a stained glass skylight above our baptistery and it give off this amazing glow sometimes. It is airy in there and the echo causes the room to seem vast. The large wedge shaped room is perfect for these types on intimate times with me in the Lord. It is so quiet except for the occasional traffic that passes by. Other than that you can actually hear yourself breathe.

We have a Cherry colored Baldwin baby grand. It is very pretty. It needs a tuning but it works just fine for my purposes. I open the top cover to the soundboard and I expose the keys. I adjust the bench and then I sit very still for a moment just taking in the elegance of the instrument. Very carefully I select the positions at which my fingers will make the initial sounds and press down the foot pedal. Down go the thumb and forth finger on my left hand while my right hand press down the three notes I have selected. The sound launches from the soundboard and into the space of the vast room and the notes seem to be racing to be in all places at once. The sound is full and majestic. Just like the God for which this instrument serves. Gently and slowly with great care I select the next series of notes and send them chasing after the other notes still echoing off the walls. Wow! I pour out that which is in my heart the best I can at it feels like the Lord is actually listening.

Holding down the foot pedal as I finish the little piece I let the final notes ring into infinity. When I can no longer hear the faintest of sounds I quietly, as if ceremonially gently, bring the cover down over the keys and slide off of the bench and with the tenderness of a surgeons hands I lower the cover over the soundboard. All is quiet once again. In those quiet moments I tell the Lord I love Him. That I thank Him for the gift of music. I can’t help but remember what God says about praises, that He inhabits the praises of His people. I wonder, as I listen to those notes dancing all around like children on a playground, is God there? Is He there in the music as well?

As a believer, a disciple of Jesus Christ, one of the most wonderful things we have is prayer. Jesus made reference to prayer many times during His ministry and He Himself demonstrated the tremendous importance of prayer. Early in my Christian life I prayed all the time. I prayed about everything. I prayed about praying. I had a great time with my new relationship with God and I wanted to spend all the time I could with Him.

I heard a sermon once about a prayer closet. Jesus made reference to going into a place and pray in secret and saying the your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you. I love that verse because it tells you that God wants that alone time, just you and Him.

I found my place early on. It was my car. I drive all day long. I visit many places and at any given time I could literally be anywhere in the state. What is neat about my secret, sacred place is that the view from the window is always different. It allows me to see Gods handiwork from a new perspective each time. It gives me a chance to see His tremendous power. It is sort of like a live postcard from Heaven showing me places where God presence is and is working.

Sometimes the worship is totally mind blowing. Often I will hum a song or a melody. Sometimes I will whistle. Sometimes I play my tin whistle. Other times I just deeply meditate. Each time learning more about God and developing a more meaningful relationship.

What is your secret sacred place? In what ways do you spend quiet time with the Master? In what ways to you worship? I would be interested to hear.

This evening my daughter had a meeting at our church. I drove her there and was left with nothing to really do: that is except one of my favorite things in the world- play the church piano. Now understand that I am not a pianist. I am a guitarist. I love to go into the sanctuary when no one else is around and keep the lights off. There is a stained glass skylight above our baptistery and it give off this amazing glow sometimes. It is airy in there and the echo causes the room to seem vast. The large wedge shaped room is perfect for these types on intimate times with me in the Lord. It is so quiet except for the occasional traffic that passes by. Other than that you can actually hear yourself breathe.

We have a Cherry colored Baldwin baby grand. It is very pretty. It needs a tuning but it works just fine for my purposes. I open the top cover to the soundboard and I expose the keys. I adjust the bench and then I sit very still for a moment just taking in the elegance of the instrument. Very carefully I select the positions at which my fingers will make the initial sounds and press down the foot pedal. Down go the thumb and forth finger on my left hand while my right hand press down the three notes I have selected. The sound launches from the soundboard and into the space of the vast room and the notes seem to be racing to be in all places at once. The sound is full and majestic. Just like the God for which this instrument serves. Gently and slowly with great care I select the next series of notes and send them chasing after the other notes still echoing off the walls. Wow! I pour out that which is in my heart the best I can at it feels like the Lord is actually listening.

Holding down the foot pedal as I finish the little piece I let the final notes ring into infinity. When I can no longer hear the faintest of sounds I quietly, as if ceremonially gently, bring the cover down over the keys and slide off of the bench and with the tenderness of a surgeons hands I lower the cover over the soundboard. All is quiet once again. In those quiet moments I tell the Lord I love Him. That I thank Him for the gift of music. I can’t help but remember what God says about praises, that He inhabits the praises of His people. I wonder, as I listen to those notes dancing all around like children on a playground, is God there? Is He there in the music as well?