Listening

"Do you hear what I hear?"


In October of 1962, a month after my parents tied the knot, the song Do You Hear What I Hear? was written and released as a plea for peace during the Cuban Missile Crisis -- a 13-day confrontation between the United States and the Soviet Union on the one hand, and between the Soviet Union and Cuba on the other. Cuba is important to me because of family connections; thus, this song holds a special place in my heart. Written by then married partners Noel Regny and Gloria Shayne, the four-stanza anthem depicts harmony and parity, all the while putting a strong emphasis on the blessedness of a peace-inspiring dialog between polarizing entities.


A dialog can only be effective if the parties involved take to heart the number one rule about a conversational exchange -- they must commit to listening to one another.


Since it is true that music is the art of sound, three major components of the work of the musician are: 

• Thinking of sounds
• Producing sounds
• Experiencing sounds

Listening, however, constitutes an essential ingredient in all three of those elements. 


Thinking requires the act of hearing in one's mind (listening to one's spirit) enough information about the sound source. Composers determine the pitches, rhythmic patterns, instruments or voices, and all other elements related to the creation of sound while performers receive ideas and feedback from teachers, coaches, colleagues, and fans in order to picture in their minds their desired tone and timbre of sound delivery.


Producing relies on a clear understanding (listening to one's heart) of the information received. Performers are the key players in producing sounds. Once the piece is in their hands and the performance has begun, composers and audience members are at the mercy of performers who are actively translating to every ear in the audience the information which was passed on to them.


Experiencing is the concept of judging the sound (listening to one's body) as it is being produced or even after it is over. Does it make sense? Do I like it? Can I relate? This is the step that everyone does and will have to do for as long as there is breath. That is why mentors spend so much time training listeners so that they can learn to experience sounds fully.


In considering the three types of listening mentioned above, I could not help seeing a connection with holism (spirit, heart/soul, body) in human beings. In fact, the more I think about it, the more I realize that all individuals are called upon to actively listen with all their ingrained faculties throughout life. From the time they are in the womb, babies have learned to recognize the voice of their mothers and even their fathers. Once babies are out, language skills are required, cultural sounds are passed on, clues and cues are given for the purposes of safety, relatedness, and adaptation. It is clear that listening is an important skill to have and one that encompasses spirituality, emotion, and physical processes.


In terms of daily life, there is a lot of listening to do. The world is dying for people to take time and listen. Every human being has a score to play. Every person has others to train. Every individual has a voice to hear and every single one of us has a choice to make. 


The following scenarios are classic examples of a world that is yearning for people to listen:

• A young woman is being raped outside the movie theater
• A single father has run out of options 
• A boy is at the end of his wits because of bullies at school
• A divorcee is crying because she never wanted to be separated from her unfaithful ex-husband
• A pastor is earnestly trying to know how to deal with his congregation
• A teacher is frustrated with the poor attitude of her students
• A student is struggling to find ways to please the professor
• A family is torn with pain - unpaid bills, unrepentant hearts, unforgiving siblings, and unfaithfulness. 

Are we listening? 
Why are we not listening?


The problem is, we are too busy to listen. We prefer the act of doing instead of listening. We would rather move on. It would be easier to send afflicted individuals to a therapist, a soup kitchen, a social outreach center, and put them out of our minds. We would rather solve such difficult issues in our own way as quickly and efficiently as possible. We would prefer to sweep them under the carpet. 


But listening? 


Nope. 
No way.


Listening takes too much time and requires too much involvement on our part. 
Listening brings too many soiled rags out of our closets.
Listening takes us out of our comfort zone.
Listening brings on too much pain. 


Who are we anyway? 
Why are people burdening us with their woeful tales? 
Why are they dumping on us? 
Why are they not going elsewhere for comfort?


No, we will not listen easily because, understandably, we want to protect ourselves from emotional harm.


The truth is, this whole listening matter goes against our nature because it requires daily maintenance. It requires all the things that a serious musician needs -- patience, persistence, practice, processing, and a positive attitude. 


Then I realize that not one human being can, in fact, possess those five qualities in a perfect way. The only one who can is our Savior -- Jesus. He alone can do everything for us, in us, in spite of us, and through us. As our Redeemer and Lord, His Word reminds us that, 

"The Lord will fight for [us]; [we] need only to be still."

Exodus 14:14, NIV 

He, alone, can achieve great things. We can do nothing. That brings me back to a revelation that God gave me while volunteering at the North Haiti Music Camp in the summer of 2010: 

GOD DOES EVERYTHING; WE DO NOTHING!

If we want to listen, and God is begging us to listen, then we ought to "be still and know that He is God." (Psalm 46:10a, NIV) 


Let our beloved Jesus use our ears --

• so we can listen to the stories of others with love and care, 
• so we can give them our full attention when they come to us,
• so we can listen with heart and understanding, 
• so we can listen without our own agenda, 
• so we can listen with openness and without judgment, 
• so we can listen without interruptions,
• so we can listen with a focused mind,
• so we can listen with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.

Then, when it is time to give feedback, would we listen to God and let His wisdom guide us? Indeed, His Word rightly says,

". . . Pay attention to my wisdom and listen well to my words of insight, 

that you may maintain discretion and your lips may preserve knowledge."

Proverbs 5:1-2, NIV

So, friends, let us saturate our minds with God's Word so that His Spirit, instead of our flesh, can speak through us. 

Dear Master, thank You for listening to our cry. Teach us to listen to our brothers and sisters in their time of need. And as we listen, teach us to be still, let go, and let You do amazing things through us for Your glory alone! Amen.

Practice

"Practice makes perfect."


We all grew up hearing the above phrase. In my own life, the times when that phrase was directed at me were instances which found me not doing what I was supposed to do. As soon as I went astray, that familiar phrase would be repeated by one or both of my parents until I got back on track. So, little habits like reading my Bible regularly, making my bed every morning, brushing my teeth twice daily, and doing my chores without complaining were life-building skills that my parents wanted me to practice continually. 


Parents encourage their children to practice other things as well. One such thing is playing the piano. In fact, most people recall having to take piano lessons when they were little. Although, for many, practicing the piano was not a fun thing to do, most will particularly remember how much and how often their parents told them they needed to practice. In the eyes of those who did not heed that advice, there was no real pull toward the musical perfection promised by their parents and teachers. They simply preferred spending time playing with their friends, watching movies, or frequenting amusement parks.


My story was quite different. 


I came to the piano at the age of thirteen, as opposed to the more common five or seven. My family did not own a piano and could not afford to pay for piano lessons on my behalf. So, it came as a huge blessing when I received five 15-minute lessons for free during a week at the North Haiti Music Camp. Once I returned home to Port-au-Prince, I had to rely on an old out-of-tune upright piano that was relegated to the back of a Bible School building not too far from where I lived. My parents never told me to practice but I had this vibrant desire to do so and I practiced three to four hours each day. Practicing the piano was like an all-consuming passion in me.


That passion or discipline was so strong that it eventually led me to become proficient enough to get accepted at Biola University where I majored in piano as well as voice performance. While there, a colleague began calling me "the practice machine" because I was known to practice the piano as many as seven hours a day. In those days, playing the piano felt as easy as drinking water because I practiced well and regularly.


As seasons of life change, my practice habits have also changed. Between family responsibilities, work duties, and other life circumstances that come with adulthood, I find that I can no longer dedicate seven hours to practicing the piano. Surprisingly, I now realize that my brief practice sessions – though musical mastery takes longer to arrive – have brought a new dimension of trust, sweetness, and peace into my music.


Perhaps, prayer is like practicing music. 


The first verse that I ever learned concerning prayer is 1 Thessalonians 5:17, "Pray without ceasing." I was but six years old at the time and remember thinking how impossible that was. I remember, even as I got older, trying to lengthen my prayers. Questions plagued my mind: 


How long should my prayers be? 
When is it okay to stop praying to take care of my chores or to do my homework? 
Is God really going to bless me if I do not pray continuously?


God’s grace has taught me that, not only is it possible to “pray without ceasing,” it is impossible to please God unless we do pray continually. The problem for most of us, however, is that we have a distorted view of prayer. We think of prayer as drudgery, a bore, or a tedious/non-productive activity as opposed to the lifeline to spiritual sustainability which God has created it to be. 


I equate spiritual sustainability to a strong and sweet friendship -- a covenantal relationship. In order for human beings to cultivate friendships, they must communicate. The more deeply and regularly friends communicate, the closer they feel to one another. The more intimate and honest the conversation, the firmer the bond between them becomes. Close friends do not spend every second of every day in each other’s company, but each brief interaction provides enough sustenance to keep them closely connected through life’s harshest blows.


Good practice sessions equally enrich the craft of a brilliant musician. It matters not how difficult that Prestissimo section is or how high the trumpet part lies, the player will have peace knowing that he/she will do exactly what has been practiced time and time again.


Even more so, prayer provides spiritual sustainability for the life of a follower of Christ. In other words, praying without ceasing is not up for debate, it is a sine qua non element in the armor that we must bear and wear as the people of God. 


The phrase, “pray without ceasing,” means that we keep an attitude of prayer by aligning our will to God’s Word as we face every situation.  It means that we ask God for His opinion before making decisions – both big and small. It means that we choose to trust His commands and not our emotions. It means that we say, “Thy will be done,” especially when we are itching to take the reins of our lives. 


Prayer demands that we subject ourselves to self-examination:

• If we call ourselves followers of Christ and sing What a Friend We Have in Jesus, then must we not commune and fellowship with Him by reading His Word and praying for all things in all occasions?
• If we choose to sing Jesus, Lover of My Soul, then should we not be willing to date Christ and grow in intimacy with Him by memorizing and quoting His Word back to Him?
• If we dare to sing Jesus Is the Sweetest Name I Know, then how can we shy away from praying in His name, mentioning His name wherever we are, glorifying His name in the presence of other people, and cherishing His name in our hearts?
• If we go to chapel services, worship centers, church buildings without ever preparing our hearts on a daily basis to stay connected to God, how can we be shocked when we feel a strong disconnect with heavenly things? 

It says in Colossians 3:1, 

"Since then, you have been raised with Christ, 

set your hearts on things above 

where Christ is seated at the right hand of God." 

What better way to do that than to pray, to communicate with Christ?


In this time of over-communication and escalating technological accessibility, we find it difficult to have enough time for God. As we allow ourselves to get busy texting 100 miles a minute every waking moment, checking facebook 25 times a day, reading emails, surfing the net mindlessly, and always having the iPod playing, precious time that could be set aside for prayer simply evaporates. Choosing not to pray basically ensures that we will have a withering relationship with God.


Let us encourage one another to create some space and to give God some time. 
Let us dare to practice today. 
Let us seek to pray. 
God’s love for us is worth the effort and His promises are worth the discipline.


Lord Jesus, I pray that You will hold the precious souls of all who read this blog in Your strong and loving arms. Strengthen their hearts and their resolve with the power of Your glorious might and cause them to increase in obedience so that their love for you can increase. Help them to be alert, watchful, and thankful so that when distractions surface and times of testing come they will be thoroughly equipped with every good work to fight the good fight, to win the race, to ride the wind of faith so they can inherit the crown of righteousness which You have reserved for them. Inspire them to seek to pray continually so that the desire of their hearts will be to please You in every way. Breathe into their lives today and for the rest of eternity. In Christ's Name, I pray. Amen.

Stage Fright

A while back, I studied the virtue of courage which, gratefully, helped deepen my understanding of God's grace. That study has since been a reminder that I am truly undeserving of God's favor and that any sign of bravery on my part can only be the work of the God-Head:

• The unending love of the Father 
• The ultimate sacrifice of the Son
• The ongoing empowering/indwelling of the Holy Spirit

God is everything and I am nothing. 

As I submit my nothingness to His abundance, I need not fret because He is certainly "my refuge, my strength, my anchor, my bulwark, my ever-present help in trouble, my song in the night."

The deeper I delve into this focus on courage as a virtue, the more I am reminded by God's Word that our lives are plagued with fear. One particular fear to which many musicians can relate is that of stage fright or performance anxiety. Uninvited though it may be, this guest always comes at the most inopportune moment. At times, it seems that the more important the performance, the more likely it is to show its ugly head. As I reflect on the ways in which I have been affected by stage fright in my career, I see some connections that not only apply to music but also link other areas of living with the principles taught by the Bible.

One such connection is the fact that poor preparation always leads to performance anxiety. Poor preparation is unique as it always relates to time management. It could be that I did not have enough advance notice to be ready for the performance. Sometimes I was given the wrong information concerning what specific piece to learn. It might be a matter of procrastination which robbed me of the adequate or necessary time to thoroughly prepare myself. It could be still that I was simply inefficient during the practice sessions choosing to use the wrong approach as I rehearsed which renders me completely ineffective in performance. Or, it could be that I opted to do nothing to prepare myself and simply hoped that I could wing it.

Another connection is that stage fright stems from the performer's wrong focus on the audience. When I think of who is potentially hearing me sing, then I start re-evaluating the choices I had made and the technical principles I had drilled into my body and mind. I get distracted and tempted to change things or to improvise in order that I might impress my audience. Then, doubt enters my mind: 

"Did I choose the right pieces?"

"Are there enough high notes on this program?" 

"Is my outfit stylish enough?" 

Such superfluous thinking renders me completely ungrounded and nervousness starts to reign in my heart.

A final connection is this: Self-focus is a deadly choice in terms of performance stress. When I focus on myself in performance, I almost always get plagued with fear before the performance is over. Since no performance is perfect, then each time a little flaw comes up, I hear it in my head as though a commentator was giving the audience a blow by blow report on my performance. At that point, I hear a little voice inside of me putting me down: 

"I knew you could not do it." 

"What made you think you were good enough?" 

"Nobody will ever want to hear you again." 

"You might as well quit right now."

"Your voice is going to crack at any moment now."

"The tenor who sang before you was so much better."

And on, and on, and on . . .  

For others, it may be different but the truth of the matter is every time we focus on ourselves our minds play tricks on us and we end up being completely disoriented. Nervousness then becomes the message we bear instead of the one prescribed by the composer.

This morning, I am reminded that life is a performance which inspires a great deal of fear in people. We are all guilty of being the prey of our nerves. We are afraid of introducing ourselves to people. We are afraid of being single and afraid of getting married. We are afraid of being barren and afraid of having too many children. We are terrified about public speaking. We worry that people might not like us or not accept us. We whine about the treatment we receive from others. We triple-guess ourselves before every step we take for fear of making the wrong move. We are afraid of not taking advantage of a deal only to have buyer's remorse after a shopping spree. We are constantly afraid. 

In our day, we are so accustomed to hearing so much depressing news that we are afraid of flying, driving, or even walking in a park. We are afraid of our spouses, other family members, neighbors, friends, and co-workers. We are sometimes afraid of going to a store or a bank for fear of being shot by robbers. We are afraid of natural disasters, an economic collapse, betrayals, and the list could go on. 

Living rightly and boldly requires excellent preparation, the right audience, and the right focus. The answer is found nowhere else but in God.

a) The training/instruction God provides in His Word is more than excellent preparation for a life well-lived. 2 Timothy 3:16-17 reads, 

"All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, 

rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 

so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work." 

We can, then, rest assured that the Master teacher is ready to instruct us at all times through His Word if we would only go to Him. In fact, Psalm 32:8 tells us that, 

"I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; 

I will counsel you and watch over you." 

What more could we need?

b) We need to realize that our audience is the audience of One -- God and only God. When we go onstage to perform, the people in the seats are merely observers, they are not our main audience. It matters not, therefore, if they do not clap nor like our offering because God is applauding. In life, we should strive to no longer desire the empty praises of human beings but seek to honor God with our actions. His approval should be our number one priority.

c) The right focus is the worship of God in every circumstance. If I focus on myself, then I commit idolatry. We need to focus on God in good times and bad times. In good times, we ought to praise His name with thanksgiving in our hearts. In bad times, we must thank Him for the affliction because we know that godly sorrow will lead to righteousness. Psalm 16:8 instructs us rightly, 

"I have set the Lord always before me, 

because He is at my right hand, 

I will never shaken."

Have you ever been shaken? I know I have. Yet, should we fear? No, absolutely not. Whom shall I fear? No one. Why should we not fear? Because our heavenly Father promised He would never leave nor forsake us regardless of how it seems on the outside. He says that He holds everything in His hand. He is in control.

Heavenly Father, thank You for offering the protection and strength we need. Please preserve us and embolden us to fight the good fight of faith until the day of the Lord. In Christ alone, we pray. Amen!

Applied Lessons

I find myself reluctant to bid adieu whenever I come to the end of a season that was filled with blessings. Truth be told, not all blessings are roses. In fact, many blessings are indeed thorns or heart-wrenching concerns that plague the mind, heart, and body. Yet, I can honestly say that through it all, God always seeks to guide me to understand that life's thorns are lessons of transformation. They are mercies, blessings in disguise.

I have recently come to a point in my career as a university professor wherein I have the freedom to focus my energies solely on teaching applied lessons (one-on-one sessions of music instruction). Each applied lesson comprises mind-centering, a warm-up period, the main learning points (repertoire, technical concepts, etc.), and wrap-up. Flexibility being an absolute must, teachers learn to adjust their plan in order to conduct lessons in the most conducive way for learning to occur. Through laughter and tears (depending on the emotions/issues the student brings), my students and I often feel quite energized, renewed, and ready to tackle ensuing weeks after our time together.

In previous years, there were applied lessons peppered amidst academic classes I taught. Although I enjoyed teaching those classes a great deal, it is undeniable that there is something truly special about interacting with one student at a time for an entire session without the distraction of other students' needs or wishes. All performing musicians do enjoy that special connection with their teachers; they value the inherent growth that those lessons allow and foster in their lives.

I, for one, remember how truly vital my voice lessons at Eastman were in sending me on a path of complete transformation. It did not take my teacher very long to recognize my love for Christ. It was she who helped me realize that my faith held the key to unlock the full potential of my singing.

I liken that discovery to the one I made recently concerning the thorns of life. Each problem we encounter is a private lesson with the Holy Spirit who is the ultimate Teacher. Just like the music professor needs to be in the context of applied lessons, the Holy Spirit is flexible in dealing with us. He is always adjusting to meet our needs, His students. Yet, how often do we walk into the lessons of life with an attitude that counteracts the very work of the Master? How often do we fail to center our minds on heavenly things? How often do we approach our difficult circumstances without taking the time to "warm-up" properly by spending time in prayer and in the study of God's Word? How often do we miss opportunities to learn the main truths and concepts our Teacher wants to impart? And when those tough seasons are over, how careful are we to wrap-up well?

Job provides a great example for us. His were priceless lessons -- horrific news, painful sores, nasty betrayals, severe losses, philosophical dilemmas, and spiritual struggles -- that can still move us toward transformation:

He approached those lessons with an attitude of humility.
   Job 1:20, "He fell to the ground in worship."

He approached those lessons with an awareness of his spiritual poverty.
   Job 1:21a, "Naked I came from my mother's womb, and naked will I depart."

He approached those lessons with a deep sense of gratitude.
   Job 1:21b, "The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away."

He approached those lessons with a readiness for worship.
   Job 1:21c, "May the name of the Lord be praised."

Those lessons provided a great opportunity for Job to honor the Creator with his allegiance. Those hardships became avenues for God to display His faithfulness to Job.

Granted, I am unaware of the current circumstances others are facing but I am certain that every human being on this planet is facing challenges. My hope is that the following words might bring encouragement to all:

Let us not be quick to resent and ward off the challenges that come our way. Instead, let us prepare ourselves for the transformative lessons our challenges represent. Let us seek to "warm-up" ourselves, as God's instruments, with humility, spiritual poverty, gratitude, and let us center our minds with a sense of readiness for worship. And, come what may, let us be transformed by the renewing of our minds even in dire straits.

A woman in dire straits by the name of Laura Story wrote this heart-stirring song which speaks directly to this topic. Please listen and let your heart be touched by the power of the Holy Spirit, the wonderful Counselor and Teacher. As we move into the future, may we not forget what the past brought us! May we keep growing in Christ and heeding the lessons of the Holy Spirit!

Yes, more lessons are coming . . .


www.youtube.com/watch?v=1CSVqHcdhXQ

Discipline

“The evil deeds of a wicked man ensnare him; 

the cords of his sin hold him fast. 

He will die for lack of discipline, led astray by his own great folly.”

Proverbs 5:22-23, NIV

I was inspired one evening after working with my first daughter on Bach’s Minuet in G minor. The daughter of two pianists, she is turning out to be quite a musical pianist herself. I smiled when she asked me a question that I often hear from my college students. With a sweet voice and an inquisitive expression on her face, she inquired:


“Daddy, do you think you will ever run out of things to change in this piece?”


She knows her daddy too well. I suppose, my students know equally well that I will always ask for more -- more expressiveness, more clarity, more heart, more energy, more . . . Well, after hearing her question, I smiled and simply said, 


“I hope so.” 


She, too, smiled. Then, after a short while, she sighed, 


“It will take a lot of discipline.”


After a precious moment like that, I slept well.


Since then, the concept of discipline has wrapped itself around my brain, causing me to reflect on its role in music and its potential impact on my faith. As a child, I did not much care for the word “discipline” because I took it to mean harsh correcting, scolding, and at times, cruel spanking. Though well-meaning, some of my grade school teachers thought that was the only way to discipline me and my classmates.


I was blessed to have a mom who was wise and so, early on, I broached the topic and told her of my issue at school. She guided me to this verse:

“Discipline your children, 

for in that there is hope; 

do not be a willing party to their death.”

Proverbs 19:18, NIV

She highlighted first and foremost that discipline was a matter of life and death; without it, the soul of a person slowly dies. She taught me that discipline is a virtue. It is a that quality should be desired, cultivated, nurtured, and developed. It is a set of skills that can influence generations of people. Instead of undermining the authority of my teachers, she made me see that, deep down, my grade school teachers were hoping to inculcate life-changing skills into my brain and heart. She also empowered me by pointing out it was up to me whether I got scolded or spanked by my teachers because their method of discipline was really guided by my behavior.


Let me just say I did not get spanked again!


I also never thought of discipline the same way ever again.


That important lesson served me well in my music learning. It did not take long for me to see that the piano required a great deal of discipline. So, I learned to practice consistently, meticulously, and regularly throughout high school. When I was admitted into the studio of Ms. Jennie Wong, my beloved piano teacher at Biola, I learned to appreciate her take on discipline. She said something to the effect of, “Learning to play the piano is an ounce of musical talent and loads of discipline.” She further told me that it was her duty and joy to teach the next generation of pianists to be disciplined musicians. In doing so, she contributed to the survival of the art form. Her influence helped me tremendously in more areas than just piano playing.


I am convinced that all good musicians will agree with Ms. Jennie Wong. I have gleaned from my numerous teachers that discipline means:

• Be diligent. Figure out what you must do and stick with it rain or shine.
• Practice when you do not feel like it and practice at least six days a week.
• Study the score carefully and do what it says.
• Listen to your teacher. Trust him/her and treat him/her with respect . . . even when you do not feel inclined to do so.
• Be an avid learner. Learn until you are transformed and keep learning some more.
• Be humble. There is always someone who can play/sing better than you can. Pick his/her brain.
• Be grateful and joyful. God singled you out by entrusting you with a precious gift.
• Do the things mentioned above and thrive -- that is life. Failure to apply them into your work means the end (death) of your career.

As I think of the above list, I cannot help but see how biblical it is. Our God values, honors, and cherishes those who love discipline. He not only wants us to be disciplined, He also wants us to influence others to become equally disciplined.


How can we do that? By teaching and training others well.
What ought we to teach them? How might we best train them?


The last words of Jesus before His ascension provide the best answer, 

“Go and make disciples of all nations, 

baptizing them . . . and teaching them 

to obey everything I have commanded you . . .” 

Matthew 28:19-20

So, discipline is really about making disciples, not angrily whipping people into shape. Discipline is really teaching and training people to become obedient to Christ in all matters.


What is the takeaway for us? What is our discipline quotient today? Are we being the kinds of influencers, teachers, and trainers that point people to Christ through our behavior, work, and leisure? Are we making disciples through our music making? Does our time management teach and train others to desire Christ? Does our diligence inspire others?


O Christ, thank You for training us in righteousness and truth. Help us to gain the wisdom of complete obedience. Teach us to walk with You and never without You. May we learn to reflect Your truth and glory to others wherever we go! In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.