Music With What's Left

I read about the performance of a most inspiring musician. Itzhak Perlman, who is a concert violinist that was stricken with polio as a child. He has braces on both legs and walks slowly and painfully. In one of his concerts a string broke on his violin. Instead of going through the time consuming process to get a replacement string, Itzhak played a symphonic work with three strings instead of the usual four strings. It's supposed to be impossible to play a symphonic work on three strings, but that night Itzhak refused to know that. You could see him modulating, changing and recomposing the piece in his head. At one point it sounded like he was detuning the strings to get new sounds from them that they had never made before. After he finished the piece, the applause was thunderous.  He smiled, wiped the sweat from his bow, raised his bow to quiet the audience, and then said-not boastfully, but in a quiet, pensive, reverent tone, "You know, sometimes it is the artist's task to find out how much music you can still make with what you have left." This poem is dedicated to Itzhak Perlman and all those committed  to passionately making the most beautiful music possible with what they have left.


MUSIC WITH WHAT'S LEFT


Each human is unique,
Something special,
Some are born handicapped,
Others become handicapped later,
It may be physical,
Or  mental,
Whatever form it takes,
Whenever it happens,
No matter how slight it is,
It leaves us at a disadvantage,
Areas where we struggle,
Or can't perform at all,
Whatever life hands us,
Whether a full cup,
Or one that's almost empty,
Or somewhere in between,
Our attitude is so important,
We can be whiners,
Or winners,
 A blessing to others,
With our positive attitude,
Kind actions,
Or a curse,
With our negative words,
Self centered actions,
Whatever we have left,
To make music with,
We need to use it,
Chose to live passionately,
With purpose,
Seek to make beautiful music,
By discovering our gifts,
Using them to glorify Elohim,
Bring his life to others.

Shadows

The poem "Shadows" much like "Watching Raindrops Dance" rejoices in God's awesome creation. There are various types of shadows in this world both good and bad.  According to the dictionary definition of this word a shadow is "a shade or patch of shade, or a shaded part of a picture." There are several other definitions for the word, but these two are sufficient for the purposes of our discussion. Something shaded can't be seen clearly. A shadow is a reflection of some tangible object. This can be beautiful like the shadows on my wall or be ominous like the shadow of someone who is stalking you. There can be shadows of the true and also of the false. What we say and do is a reflection of our character. It can mean that we are not being transparent or honest in our dealings with others and trying to hide something. Our Savior wants us to walk uprightly and determine to be honest in all our dealings with others. Psalm 15 encourages believers about the benefits of walking uprightly and speaking truth in our hearts. Proverb 2:7 promises us that "He stores up sound wisdom for the upright; He is a shield to those who walk uprightly..." That is what I want in my life.

                    SHADOWS

Tree branches sway,

Shadows of the real,

So delicately beautiful,

They decorate my wall,

As no picture can,

Sunbeams dance,

On my oak floors,

Emitting a golden glow,

Rainbows light up the room,

Radiating off my prism,

Each speaks peace,

Cheers and comforts,

Tells of an awesome Creator,

And his magnificent creation.