Playing Hymns

“Each person is given something to do that shows who God is”   I Corinthians 12:7 “The Message.”

Although he was leading the book discussion, his time to share about the changes in life that befall us all came, and, looking out the window, he described losing his ability to play the piano. I surmised, he was once an accomplished pianist and organist, but, rubbing his hands together, he described slowly needing to give up the organ, then his favorite piano compositions. “Now,” he said looking down at his hands, “All I can play are hymns.”

I was as touched by the manner of his description of change as I was by the change itself. There was no bitterness in his sadness, and his acceptance was as tender as it was inspirational. I’m not a pianist, but grew up in the melodies of a man who was, and throughout my life was taught we are all given a song to sing, a piece to play, and our sole purpose in life is to sing and play so people will know how amazing God is. I think that's what Paul was trying to get the Corinthians to understand. No matter what gifts we’ve been given, the purpose is to use them so people around us will celebrate life and give thanks to the one who gave it to us in the first place.

I write this at a time in my life when things are shifting. The horizons of what I can do are not as distant or vast, and opportunities are often given to younger, less weathered, souls. Like the seasoned pianist, though, I want to rub my hands together and recognize I can still play hymns, songs of the soul that point to what and who really matters, and that’s enough.