Journal Entries

I remember when our kids started beginner band in the 7th grade of Junior High. They each, on their own, chose to play the trombone, which was the same instrument I played. Cyndi and I told them they could try any instrument they wanted (with a few exceptions) but that I could help them most if they chose trombone. Much to my surprise, they both did.

I wasn’t so surprised by Byron since he was oldest. But when it was Katie’s turn, two and a half years later, I was shocked that she picked the same instrument both her dad and her big brother played. I thought she would assert her independence and play something totally different, like bassoon, or harp.

As it was, with three trombone players in the family, we used to go Christmas caroling together. People were quite surprised to open their doors and find three trombones on their front porch playing Silent Night.

I remember when Byron and Katie first started in beginner band, we had long discussions about what was most important when playing a musical instrument, especially a wind instrument. It was not their embouchure, not their slide positions, not their breath control, not even their brains. The most important part of their body was their ears. Their future as musicians would be determined by how well they listened while playing. How they listened to themselves and to other musicians around them, would make the most difference.

Owning a musical instrument does not make a person a musician. Practice helps; skill and technique go a long way. But someone who plays an instrument without listening to the ensemble around them, without listening to the room as it takes the sound, without listening to the audience respond to what is being played, well, they may play technically-correct music, but they will never be musicians. Listening is how the music you play comes home to your heart. Listening is the most important quality of being a musician.

What reminded me of those ancient conversations with my kids was something I read this morning from Isaiah 42. God said: “You have seen many things, but have paid no attention; your ears are open, but you hear nothing.� Just because we have biological eyes and ears given to us by God, doesn’t meant we see and hear the things of God. We have to pay attention.

Just like the owner of a musical instrument can learn the techniques and go to the workshops and learn the notes and presume they have it all figured out, we can live our spiritual lives focusing on skills and knowledge and never really connect with God. Some may play their instruments louder than anyone else in the room, and may even have their brilliant moments, but unless they learn to listen, it will be nothing more than sound waves. And as followers of God, unless we learn to listen to God, listen to the people around us, listen to the room, we will never experience the joy of a deep and personal communion with God.

In the next chapter of Isaiah (43) God directs: “Lead out those who have eyes but are blind, who have ears but are deaf … so that you may know and believe Me and understand that I am He.� God doesn’t want to leave his followers deaf and blind; He wants them to listen and see. That’s always the best part of the pursuit of God … He wants us to find Him. He wants us to hear Him. He wants us to see Him. He wants us to learn how to listen. We are not alone.

Henri Nouwen wrote: “Listening is the core attitude of the person who is open to God’s living and creative word.� It is significant that he used the word “attitude� to describe listening rather than the word “skill.� A change in attitude is easier than learning a new skill.