A Very Ordinary Unordinary Day
Today was pretty good as days go. It seemed fairly normal, and predictable given my need for continuity and structure. I woke up at the same time, went to the same 8:00 class I have been going to for the past months, saw the same people, at ate the same place, and thought I must be the most boring person in the world.
The afternoon wasn't that different either. I went to marching band and turned in my uniform. Then I sang in voice class, and did reasonably well for an instrumentalist. After that, I went to orchestra and turned in all my music. I was wrapping up the semester.
That evening after orchestra, however, things began to change. First off, sometime last week I was commissioned to arrange a more contemporary version of O Come O Come Emmanuel to be performed at the CCF Christmas service. I finished, the singers approved, and all that was left to do was practice and perform the piece. It's amazing how the simple can become so complex when start thinking about it too hard. Our first practice went ok. One of the singers, poor girl, she got so stressed out. I finally just said we all needed to go and relax. We didn't get to practice again until this afternoon, just a few hours before the performance.
Well, thank goodness this practice went better. We got everything worked out, including the nerves. The performance went wonderful! Faith and Julie did so good!! I was very proud of all of us. I know God was too. After the performance was over, we got the usual "good job" 's and a few hugs. Including a special hug from a special person. Then it was time for Dr. Lazenby to get back to his office. I still had a paper to finish.
On the way back to my dorm, something interesting happened. I was walking by myself toward the music building. No one else was around. I figured I would practice a song or two on the piano before I resigned myself to sitting in front a computer screen for a few hours. Then, the bell tower beginning to chime out the time. Since I've lost my watch, I listened to see what time it was. It was 9:00 P.M. Then after the nine chimes, the bell tower begin to ring out our Alma Mater. I stood and listened and looked around at the beautiful campus I could see. Then it all of a sudden hit me. I realized exactly all I had accomplished this semester. All the new things I have learned, all the new friends I have made, and the confidence and independence I have gained. I'll I could think was...Wow.
After that, I went up to the practice rooms, with a smile on my face. I had just performed at CCF in front of a lot of people (it's no Panther's stadium, but it was still a big crowd). Yet, my biggest performance of the day was just coming up. See, in the practice room, it's just me by myself. Nobody else is around to hear me, especially at night, when I like to go. Even though nobody else was around, I still had to perform for my biggest fan. Sure enough, I sat down to play, and he sat behind me to listen. Beginning with "Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus", going through songs like "Christmas Time is Here" and "Your A Mean One Mr. Grinch", and ending with "O Holy Night" I played a small concert for my biggest fan....God. I sat at the piano, and he sat behind me, enjoying the gift that he gave me.
God has given each of us gifts and talents. He loves when you use them for him. He'll be your biggest fan if you'll let him.
As always, may God keep you this and every night. Now if you'll excuse me...I have a paper to finish.
"Grief and tragedy and hatred are only for a time. Goodness, remembrance and love have no end". - President George W. Bush
The afternoon wasn't that different either. I went to marching band and turned in my uniform. Then I sang in voice class, and did reasonably well for an instrumentalist. After that, I went to orchestra and turned in all my music. I was wrapping up the semester.
That evening after orchestra, however, things began to change. First off, sometime last week I was commissioned to arrange a more contemporary version of O Come O Come Emmanuel to be performed at the CCF Christmas service. I finished, the singers approved, and all that was left to do was practice and perform the piece. It's amazing how the simple can become so complex when start thinking about it too hard. Our first practice went ok. One of the singers, poor girl, she got so stressed out. I finally just said we all needed to go and relax. We didn't get to practice again until this afternoon, just a few hours before the performance.
Well, thank goodness this practice went better. We got everything worked out, including the nerves. The performance went wonderful! Faith and Julie did so good!! I was very proud of all of us. I know God was too. After the performance was over, we got the usual "good job" 's and a few hugs. Including a special hug from a special person. Then it was time for Dr. Lazenby to get back to his office. I still had a paper to finish.
On the way back to my dorm, something interesting happened. I was walking by myself toward the music building. No one else was around. I figured I would practice a song or two on the piano before I resigned myself to sitting in front a computer screen for a few hours. Then, the bell tower beginning to chime out the time. Since I've lost my watch, I listened to see what time it was. It was 9:00 P.M. Then after the nine chimes, the bell tower begin to ring out our Alma Mater. I stood and listened and looked around at the beautiful campus I could see. Then it all of a sudden hit me. I realized exactly all I had accomplished this semester. All the new things I have learned, all the new friends I have made, and the confidence and independence I have gained. I'll I could think was...Wow.
After that, I went up to the practice rooms, with a smile on my face. I had just performed at CCF in front of a lot of people (it's no Panther's stadium, but it was still a big crowd). Yet, my biggest performance of the day was just coming up. See, in the practice room, it's just me by myself. Nobody else is around to hear me, especially at night, when I like to go. Even though nobody else was around, I still had to perform for my biggest fan. Sure enough, I sat down to play, and he sat behind me to listen. Beginning with "Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus", going through songs like "Christmas Time is Here" and "Your A Mean One Mr. Grinch", and ending with "O Holy Night" I played a small concert for my biggest fan....God. I sat at the piano, and he sat behind me, enjoying the gift that he gave me.
God has given each of us gifts and talents. He loves when you use them for him. He'll be your biggest fan if you'll let him.
As always, may God keep you this and every night. Now if you'll excuse me...I have a paper to finish.
"Grief and tragedy and hatred are only for a time. Goodness, remembrance and love have no end". - President George W. Bush
posted by Jeffrey Lazenby | 2:15 AM
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