"Don't quit. Keep playing"

My sister posted this on her facebook. It hit me in a powerful way because I'm a musician and because I often feel a little inadequate both in music and life in general. I've had trial a plenty in my life, and I have personally felt the Master's arms of comfort, support, guidance, and enabling power surround me. I know He lives, and He loves every one of His children in a very sincere and personal way. He knows each of us individually by name and He knows our true potential. One of my greatest desires, even more than becoming an accomplished oboist, is to fulfill the potential my Master sees in me. I never want to disappoint Him, so I trudge along, stubbornly enduring to the end with complete faith and trust in the omnipotent hand leading me through this life.

Consider this story: A young piano student's mother, wishing to encourage him, “bought tickets for a performance of the great Polish pianist, Paderewski. The night of the concert arrived and the mother and son found their seats near the front of the concert hall. While the mother visited with friends, the boy slipped quietly away.

“Suddenly, it was time for the performance to begin and a single spotlight cut through the darkness of the concert hall to illuminate the grand piano on stage. Only then did the audience notice the little boy on the bench, innocently picking out ‘Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star.’

“His mother gasped, but before she could move, Paderewski appeared on stage and quickly moved to the keyboard. He whispered to the boy, ‘Don’t quit. Keep playing.’ And then, leaning over, the master reached down with his left hand and began filling in the bass part. Soon his right arm reached around the other side, encircling the child, to add a running obbligato. Together, the old master and the young novice held the crowd mesmerized.

“In our lives, unpolished though we may be, it is the Master who surrounds us and whispers in our ear, time and time again, ‘Don’t quit. Keep playing.’ And as we do, He augments and supplements until a work of amazing beauty is created. He is right there with all of us, telling us over and over, ‘Keep playing.’” (As quoted by James E. Faust, Oct. 1999 General Conference, General Releif Society Session.)

Our True Identity

Something to be thankful for...

Thanksgiving is just under 3 weeks away, and I am getting more and more excited each day that passes by. One of my music major buddies mentioned the closeness of Thanksgiving earlier this week. All of a sudden, the tasks before me seemed less daunting because Thanksgiving is so close. On one side of the perspective coin, the fact that this holiday is looming ever closer means that I need to start thinking about the final projects in several of my classes, juries are looming ever closer, the orchestra concert is coming up quickly for which I still haven't solidified my parts, etc. On the other side of the coin, the holiday is a closer goal for which I can strive to endure before I take a break, I will get to see my family very soon after almost 3 months away from home, there are only a few weeks of the semester left after Thanksgiving, I will get to relax for a few days, I get to see the 7th Harry Potter Movie Part 1 the Saturday after the holiday, and I get to remember all of the things for which I am thankful.

I am most excited about the opportunity to be home and spend time with my family again. My home is truly a sanctuary from the world. Love abides there as does the Spirit of the Lord. I am always welcome there. The people I care about most on this earth will be there. We strive to build a piece of Zion there. And, it's just so packed with memories.

You may think I'm strange for doing this, but I start listening to Christmas music at the end of October or beginning of November every year. I'm not sure why I love it soooo much, but I do know that every time I listen to it, I'm reminded of home and all of the wonderful memories from this time of year. I remember the magic and light of the season and my heart is renewed at a time in the semester when I'm starting to wear down. I'm so grateful for this time of year and all the wonders it brings with enchanting decorations, glittering snow(if we get it), reminiscing of the past, dreams of the future, and the emphasis on my Savior.

This greeting may be a little early, but I am going to say it anyway: Happy Holidays!!!

A moment in the rain...

I stood quietly on the balcony of my apartment building overlooking the pool. Overhead the deep clouds reflected the night lights of the city. Rain fell softly on the leaves, pool, and concrete, and I heard the passing song of cars driving on the wet roads a building away. Something was chirping nearby. Chatter and small noises escaped from many rooms overlooking the pool, but all was still in my soul. Light flashed behind the mountain, outlining it's foggy majestic form. Quiet thunder echoed several seconds later, and I felt God's presence renew and calm my spirit. I breathed in the sweet smell of rain and felt the light drops on my head. The drops cleansed my spirit.

I wish I could stand here for minutes without end, drinking in the amazing nature of God. I rarely get the opportunity to slow down, stand still, and observe the world around me. If allowed, I could sit without moving amidst nature for hours, allowing my spirit to remember my Lord and basking in the beauty of His wondrous creations. I am so grateful for the opportunity to live, love, and learn on this beautiful earth.

When I was young, I was very frightened of thunderstorms. I remember one stormy summer afternoon when I my parents weren't home. I picked a happy movie from the shelves, went downstairs to the basement, put in the movie, turned up the volume, and laid down with one ear in a pillow. During some late night storms, I would try with little avail to cover both ears tightly with my pillow, only succeeding to endure a half-sleep until the storm abated. My mom encouraged me that the thunder was simply the sounds from angles bowling in the clouds. Sometimes my siblings and I would then listen to the thunder and call out the score of the angles according to the intensity of the rumble. Over time, I grew to love storms. While visiting my maternal grandparents in Lakeside, AZ one fire-filled summer, we had a couple thunderstorms a day. We would go out under the roof covered patio just in front of the large cabin and watch the healing rain fall through smokey air, listen to the thunder roll, and smell the clean, wet earth. Years later, I was spending the night in a cabin near Island Park, Idaho. After the sun set, a storm blew in. Lightning streaked the sky, thunder rolled, and rain poured down for several minutes in a powerful show. It was wonderful! The lightning and thunder that once brought fear to my small frame now fill my soul with the testimony of God's power. I rejoice in it and say, "What glorious weather!"

O Lord my God, when I in awesome wonder

Consider all the worlds thy hands have made,

I see the stars, I hear the rolling thunder,

Thy pow'r throughout the universe displayed;

Then sings my soul, my Savior God, to thee,

How great thou art!How great thou art!

Then sings my soul, my Savior God, to thee,

How great thou art! How great thou art!

(LDS Hymns, 86, How Great Thou Art!)

World Beat Music

I've heard some interesting music, and seen some fairly interesting sheet music, but when I was informed about this one, I was quite amazed. It was done by James Plakovic who draws music art. His wedsite is http://plakovic.com/index.shtml .

This score proves that music is really the universal language ;)

Answer to Prayer

I had a wonderful experience last week that has strengthened my testimony.

I decided a couple weeks ago that I should find an occupational therapist down in Provo where I am at school to continue therapy and hopefully finally take care of my tendinitis. I mentioned it to the therapist I had at home (he has given me therapy several times before and after I went to Alaska), and he said I should find one who is ASTYM(Augmented Soft Tissue Mobilization) certified. Dad and I searched on our health insurance website for approved therapists, then I searched on the ASTYM website. One name showed up on both lists. I got an excited feeling about that name. I wasn't sure if it was just nervousness or not, so I asked Mom how she felt about it (she being entitled to motherly inspiration). She told me she hadn't received any negative feelings, so it must be good. After deciding on this doctor I continued to feel an excited/nervous sensation and nothing negative. The next morning I felt happy and excited. I set up the appointment for Friday, and for the next couple of days that looming appointment had the center of my attention as I waited in joyful anticipation. The appointment went great and my doctor started the ASTYM treatment right away (a tapered plastic edge is dragged along the affected tendons to tramatize the area; I then have to do 6 streches 4-6 times a day to help the tissue mend itself properly.). I find it interesting that such a simple procedure does so much. I am grateful to the person who discovered it!

I have never felt so right about something in my life as I have about this. I feel like my prolonged prayers are in the process of being answered. Life is wonderful; God is in control, and in His timetable, all things will be accomplished according to His will. I know my Heavenly Father is aware of me, and that he loves me very much. The struggles I have endured have helped me grow, and I know now I am being blessed. After five more sessions, the tissue of my arm will be healed, God willing, and I will be able to enjoy life with pain-free arms. All is well