Instrument
Whenever I preach, I offer myself the opportunity to reflect on the words that I shared after the service. I even go back and listen to the sermon, just so I can still learn something from it, figure out what I missed, or learn how I could have made it better. And so, after last Sunday’s sermon, I did the same thing - reflected on the sermon. But as I pondered long and hard over it, one word kept coming to mind - instrument. Disciples are instruments that God uses for God’s purpose.
Mark and Suzy had been married a few years when suddenly she began to lose her eyesight, got really depressed, and sank into a deep slow despond. But Mark promised her, "Honey, I am going to stick with you and I’m going to help you learn how to do your job blind. They worked very hard at it." He went to the office with her every day and showed her how to do her job as a blind woman, and then he would leave for his work at a local Army base.
One day, he turned to her and said, "Suzy, I am sorry, but I am getting to work too late, and you have to go to your job on your own." She was freaked out. "There’s no way that I can ride the bus, walk the streets, come the flight of stairs, go upstairs, go into the office, and sit on my desk on my own," she said. Mark responded, "No, honey, I am going to stay with you, I am going to teach you." And so, they did it for a couple of weeks and eventually, he said," Ok, I think you know it well enough, I have got to go to work at an earlier hour." So, that next Monday came and she got on the bus, walked the block, and walked up the stairs. Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday all went beautifully.
On Friday, as she was getting on the bus, the bus driver said to her, "You are a really lucky woman." Susan responded, "Stop it. I am a blind woman." The driver then said to her, "Yes, ma’am, but every day this week, as you’ve gotten off the bus, a man is standing on the street corner in a military uniform and he never takes his eyes off of you. And when you walk down the sidewalk, he’s watching you carefully like a hawk, you cross the street at the right time, he’s watching you like a hawk, you go up the stairs, you open the door, you go in and as soon as that door closes. He stands tall, gives you a salute, blows you a kiss, and then turns to go away."
Suzy understood that that was her husband. "He’s been watching me all this time. I am not alone."
That’s exactly what God does for us in a more profound way, and then God calls us to do that with each other - to protect each other, focus on each other, listen to each other, build each other up, and encourage each other - to be instruments.
One of the reasons why I fell in love with this story is because Mark became an instrument for Suzy to the point where when she believed that she could not do a whole lot of things on her own because of her new condition. Mark helped her, encouraged her, and empowered her to do what she thought couldn’t do. The sweet part is that Mark didn’t leave her on her own, he stood away, from a distance and watched her use the tools that he empowered her with.
In the course of my reflection, I decided to check the definition of the word instrument. One of the multiple definitions is as a device that produces music, such as piano, guitar, and violin. There are also similar definitions that transport us to different worlds, creating a magical and therapeutic experience for us. We love to hear the music from these instruments because of what they do to us and how they make us feel.
When he was a young boy, David was noted for playing the harp. And when an evil spirit descended upon King Saul, David was brought to play the harp for King Saul so the evil spirit may depart from him. And it so happened that every time that the evil spirit descended upon the king, David came to play the harp to calm the aching soul of the king. That instrument-harp, has a purpose, not only is its music therapeutic, but it is music that transports us and lifts us out of our melancholy.
Growing up, I didn't get the opportunity to learn how to play any instrument. But it is always special to see the youth in our church, especially on Youth Sundays, share their gift of music with us. It is special to see Larissa’s son play his French horn; it is special to see Zachary Johnson play his trumpet, it is special to see Deepthi or Eva or Hope play the piano, and it is special to see my son, James, play the piano. I am sure that it is special to hear your child play an instrument.
Through my reflection, I concluded that an instrument is meant to do one thing: produce harmonious music meant to soothe our aching souls and lift our spirits up.
When I look around, I see a lot of instruments, ones that have been entrusted to us to teach us something about ourselves, help us live thriving lives, empower us to build and live fruitful lives, and nurture us to appreciate the beauty of a love that goes beyond the usual. These instruments are not like any musical instruments, but they, too, can make beautiful music.
During this Stewardship season, I implore you to see yourself not only as an instrument but one when put together with your gift and mine, we can make beautiful music as unique instruments of God. Stewardship Sunday is in two weeks on November 3rd, and it is our hope that each of us will feel that sense of belonging that permeates within this community and commit himself or herself to our common life.
The more I reflected on each of us as instruments, the more I was reminded of the beautiful words of Teresa of Avila:
“Christ has no body now but yours. No hands, no feet on earth but yours. Yours are the eyes through which he looks compassion on this world. Yours are the feet with which he walks to do good. Yours are the hands through which he blesses all the world. Yours are the hands, yours are the feet, yours are the eyes, you are his body. Christ has no body now on earth but yours.”
You better believe that there has never been a better instrument than you.
You are an instrument because God uses you to make beautiful music in the world.
Blessings,
Manny +
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