Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.” (Matthew 11:28-30)
One Step
I get a knot in my stomach when I think about how far I must climb.
All I can see right now is the hardship of getting there.
It seems daunting…
…and I know there will be sweat and exhaustion involved
…and there will be times when I fall down
…and there will be times when I feel like giving up
…and there will be times when I think it’s not worth it
But then You remind me…
…those thoughts are coming from the one who wants me to fail
…and You promise me, I don’t have to do this alone
…You will be there every step of the way
…and others will help me
…to pull me up
…and to climb to the top, beside me
I don’t have to take it all at once…
…and there will be times of rest.
…and there will be times when I can stop
….and enjoy the view out the windows
…which will get better and better the higher I go.
And I don’t have to jump to the top all at once…
…all I have to do is take
…one
…step
…at
…a
…time
The proud warrior stood in the face of his enemy
To battle with all of his might
The crowd gathered round
They were filled with intensity
To see who would win in the fight
Now most folks would cheer for the proud warrior’s legacy
Hoping for bloodshed and death
The time was approaching
The battle was almost here
When from the shadows the lamb now appeared
Offering a rose to the warrior that day
In total humility and love
But the proud warrior offered no more than a sword
As the battle had finally begun
The news spread like wildfire
The warrior was victorious and strong
But history would prove that his victory wasn’t victory at all
And pride goes before a fall
The lamb died that day for us all
The masses continued to follow the warrior
So proud of the wars he had won
But for those who believed in the humble contender
They bowed the knee for what he had done
They sang “Jesus Rose of Sharon bloom here within my heart
Bloom here with radiance, humility and love
Bloom here within my heart
Just as I Am, oh Lamb of God”
(Repeat)
The proud warrior stood in the face of his enemy to fight
Giving it his all with every strength, every weapon and all his might
The crowd gathered around as the intensity did grow
Waiting to see what weapons they would choose; who would deliver the final blow
Most cheered for the proud warrior, much fewer for the contender
They were hoping for bloodshed and violence, and that the other would have to surrender
Chronos…the battle time came near
The time was approaching as the intensity grew stronger
When will the battle start?, they asked…how much longer?
As the lamb of God in starking humility approached the proud warrior from the shadows
He reached out his hand and simply offered the proud warrior a rose
And with one blow after another, the proud warrior offered to the crowd a slaying
The crowd cheered in delight; but there remained a handful who dropped to their knees and started praying
The news spread like wildfire; how the proud warrior was victorious and strong
But history would prove this victory wasn’t a victory at all, as the score of this battle was called wrong
Kairos…the battle was not over
The masses continued to follow the proud warrior because they themselves were proud
But the lamb of God had a remnant of believers, and to him they humbly bowed
Genuine Fenton art glass, blown by Chuck Boux of Sigma Glass, St. Petersburg, FL
The glassblower formed the molten glow
His skill refined and keen
With the care of an artist creating perfection
It was the prettiest heart I’d ever seen
I took my heart and showed it with pride
For all the world to see
But it was too fragile, this heart of glass
And a broken heart’s of no use to me
I searched far and wide for the best potter
To make a heart that was stronger
It wasn’t as pretty, this heart of clay
But I knew it would last longer
I took my heart and showed it with pride
For all the world to see
It too was fragile and it crumbled
And a broken heart’s of no use to me
To the best sculptor money could buy
I found my heart of granite
It was heavy and hard, not very pretty
This strongest heart on the planet
I took my heart and showed it with pride
For all the world to see
It didn’t break, but it was too cold
And all those around left me
The glassblower formed the molten glow
His skill refined and keen
With the care of an artist creating perfection
It was the prettiest heart I’d ever seen
I took my heart, handling it with care
For some of the world to see
This heart of glass, fragile in its beauty
Is best shared with humility
St. Petersburg College (SPC Gibbs Campus) Music Arts Center, St. Petersburg, FL
Two Steinways, 4 Pianists Recital, January 9, 2015
Drawing by Kenneth Neifeld, MD
I am one…I am one of many…
Yet different from every other…See me?
There I am…
No not there…one over…
Yes…that’s me…Even though I may look the same as many others…
I am very unique, as one of many…
I have an endless number of characteristics…
I can be loud…
I can be soft…
I can be restrained…
I can be sustained…
As One…
I can stand alone…
But that’s not where I do my best work…
For alone, even with all of my endless characteristics…
I am but One Note…
But in the masters hands…
One…and another one…and another…and another…
Together, each with our own endless number of characteristics…
Combined…
Blended…
At the right time…
With the right tempo…
With the right mood…
We become…
One Opus…
