Previous Challenge Entry (Level 2 – Intermediate)
Topic: Music (03/08/07)
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TITLE: A Vessel of Music | Previous Challenge Entry
By Cherry Bieber
03/15/07 -
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Life had been cruel from the start and his spirit was destitute by the age of three. Even so, by the time he was twelve, he knew his soul possessed music that needed its outlet and this outlet would be the means of his healing. However, he did not yet know the Source of his music. He had made many vain attempts to play in his early adult years, but life continued to smother the true music that begged for release. He continued to searched for light in the darkness of his existence and in his fortieth year of life, a completely broken man, he surrendered heart, mind, body, and soul to the Risen Lord. It was then that the music began to flow and the violin was his instrument of choice. Dedicating all to the Lord, he began to play.
Now, five years later, he sat on a stage with his hands trembling in his lap. He could hardly believe this was really happening. He didn’t tremble because of the large crowd waiting just the other side of the curtain, but rather because of the joy that coursed through his veins for the healing he had found. He didn’t rejoice because he had been found worthy by the public to perform. He rejoiced that his Father had made him a worthy vessel, a vessel through which to pour out rivers of living water into the lives of others and to be a witness of His Love. He bowed his head to pray and praise and this is how the crowd first saw him when the curtain was raised.
He stood and walked to the microphone with calm determination. His eyes wandered throughout the auditorium and he found unspoken camaraderie when his gaze met that of another. The smiles were warm and the silence was like a blanket that offered solace to all in the room. He hadn’t come prepared with a speech, as he had asked the Father to give him the words, if any, that he needed to say.
“Tonight I will play life for you…my life, and perhaps your life, too.” He began. “It is through this music that the Lord brought healing to my soul. It is my prayer that tonight He will do the same for you. Please join me in asking the Lord’s blessing on this evening.” He bowed his head in prayer, for he knew that the glory all belonged to the Lord and hoped that others would see this too.
He placed the violin under his chin, closed his eyes, and began to play. The beginning tones seemed to weep with anguish too deep for words and tears slowly ran down his cheeks. Soon the tones were those of deep, prayerful worship, which seemed to utter the plea of every broken heart to Almighty God. He stopped abruptly and his tears now flowed unhindered, but he never opened his eyes. The silence was full of the presence of the Holy Spirit and no one dared move or speak. In complete surrender, he lifted his hands high with the violin in one and the bow in the other. His mouth was moving, but no sound was heard by human ear. Then, with anticipatory joy, he again placed the violin under his chin and began to play. The tones now were those of graceful dancing and gentle laughter and soon led to tones of rejoicing during which he began to twirl round and round while he played. For two hours he played and wept and danced. Many in the crowd danced and wept with him. There was not a dry eye to be found and many felt they, too, had been set free.
No one, save the Lord, really knew all that had happened that night. As he played and communed with the Holy Spirit, he realized that the Father’s music had been playing in his life from conception. It was in the deeper recesses of his spirit that he had first heard the Father’s calling on his life and no amount of cruelty could have quieted that music. Years of dross from rejection, abuse, and abandonment melted away and his music became a tool of healing. He had given his heart to Christ and Christ’s music flowed through his hands bringing freedom to others. It was far more than he had hoped for.
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