No one I've ever known who plays piano enjoyed learning how to play on the black keys. It is much easier to stay on the white keys. First, the black keys require your fingers to adjust; you must spread your hand in a way that feels unnatural at times. Second, you have to remember if the selected black key represents a tone one half-step up or a tone one half-step down. Finally, you must learn to read your music cognizant of the fact that certain notes on the page are now played on the black keys, and again, you must remember if those tones are higher or lower in relation to what you have just played or are going to play.
But the truth is, if every song ever written was only played on the white keys, we would never know the beauty of a minor scale, save one. We would never know what it feels like to move down into a darker tune, or modulate up to a joyful melody. The black keys add a richness to our music.
My life is full of black keys. My life song is riddled with the darkness of minor tones. It is punctuated by pitches that are both saddening and joyful, sharp in nature and resolved in perfect harmony. It's time to quit fighting the black keys. It's time to accept that the Master Composer allows black keys in my life to bring about a beautifully complex melody. And to add even more depth, He underscores the tune with ancient words of TRUTH and HOPE, even in the midst of discordant tones. It's time to accept all of my life as His beautiful song He sings over me every day.
How about you? Is your life full of black keys, too? Do you fight the melodies and harmonies the Master Composer is penning? Or, do you lean into the difficult passages, taking your time, wading through the hours of practice and meaning-making required to bring your beautiful song to life? "The LORD your God is with you, the Mighty Warrior who saves!" His battle cry is the oratorio He sings over you; He protects you, goes before you, walks beside you, undergirds you, and follows behind you. You do not need to fear playing the black keys as you trust in the One who composed your life song. I know it's hard; you are going to spend countless hours on the black keys. But I promise it will be worth it when you realize that everything - yes, even the black key moments - worked for your good because you love Him and He used those moments for the purpose of making you more like Him (Romans 8:28). God is singing over you, so go ahead, play those black keys!
No comments:
Post a Comment