All You Need Is Hot Air!
Yes, it is that time of year that I make another attempt at learning to play a musical instrument. This may sound like a normal part of someone elses life, but not for me. You see, I have no talent with any musical instrument. I have tried just about all of them at one time or another. I started out with the coronet when I joined the band in the sixth grade. As long as you went to practice, the teacher couldn’t kick you out of the band. However, at the end of the sixth grade, my teacher encouraged me to take up another hobby, something that didn’t have anything to do with music
A wise man would have listened to an expert and never tried to learn to play another instrument. I had the desire; I just didn’t have the talent. I told myself that the problem was not with me, but with the instrument I had selected to master. I have tried the piano (too big and too many keys to choose from, I believe there are 87 or 88!), the guitar (only six strings, but you have to move both hands at the same time, but in different directions!), the banjo (only five strings, but I could never master the “three fingered claw”), the fiddle (I just couldn’t rosin up the bow), the bass (only four strings, but you have to have rhythm to know when to pluck the strings, not my gift), and the harmonica (the key changes were too close together and I was never sure what note I was playing, and nobody else was sure either!).
Yes sir, I was about to give up on learning to play a musical instrument until I saw a book, “How to Play the Bagpipe, Method and Songbook!” What a great idea, a book that can teach you all you need to know about how to play the bagpipe. I only had one problem, I didn’t have a bagpipe! I went to a local music store and told them my problem. I wasn’t hedging my bets, but I didn’t want to have to buy a bagpipe, only to sit it next to the piano, fiddle, guitar, and bass. He told me that I could buy a “chanter.” This instrument looks like a flute that you would use to charm a snake. Since the cost of the chanter was reasonable, I ordered one and waited for its arrival. Now, I know there is a difference between a music lover and a music maker, but when I placed my fingers over the various holes and blew into the chanter, the sound didn’t change when I moved my fingers! Could it be that I have selected yet another instrument that I cannot master? Stayed tuned.
Have you ever had the desire to do something, but had no success at your desired goal? I guess we have all tried things that were out of our talent zone. Does that mean we should quit trying new things? Absolutely not! One of the blessings of life is that everyday is a new day and we have the God-given opportunity to make the most out of it for His glory. Whatever we attempt in life, we need to make sure we are doing it for the right reasons. Whether it is learning to play a musical instrument, or doing our job at work, we must have a wisdom that comes from God and is not easily discouraged. James 3:13-14 says, “If you are wise and understand God’s ways, live a life of steady goodness so that only good deeds will pour forth. And if you don’t brag about the good you do, then you will be truly wise! But if you are bitterly jealous and there is selfish ambition in your hearts, don’t brag about being wise. That is the worst kind of lie.”
Whatever we attempt in our lifetime, we should ask God for the wisdom and the strength to accomplish the task for His glory. If we try to place the emphasis upon ourselves or what we have done, only jealousy and selfish ambition are our reward. Remember, don’t give in to sin. Think about it!