Tweeners

Most of my life I have been involved in music: piano, voice, saxophone, a little guitar. It has always been an enjoyable pursuit for me, and for a while I considered a career in the music industry.

Musicians fall along a spectrum of talent. On one end are casual players, those who pick it up to impress a girl or because they need a hobby or because they heard "Stairway to Heaven" in an elevator and have to learn how to play it. On the other end are the true virtuosos, the Van Cliburns and Pavarottis and Jimi Hendrixes. Most of us fall squarely in the middle somewhere, "tweeners" if you will.

For the tweeners, we dream of being able to play like the virtuosos. Most of us are realistic enough to know that it is a distant possibility, so we keep our hopes in check.

Every so often, though, we taste a bit of true greatness. It is hard to describe, but if you are a musician, you know what I mean. Suddenly your fingers connect with the piano, or your voice hits a tone, or the guitar begins to vibrate, and you realize that you are in the midst of a sacred moment.

The instrument takes on a life of its own and begins to sing. It feels as if God Himself is sitting next to you, His hands working the keys, breathing your voice, picking the strings. It is enough to bring you to tears. This must be what the virtuosos feel all the time, you think (perhaps naively).

I have never played golf much, but most golfers describe a similar experience when they hit the elusive "perfect shot." It reminds me of Eric Liddell (in Chariots of Fire) saying, "When I run, I feel His pleasure."

Those few, precious divine moments give me a taste of eternity while rooting me squarely in the now. Although I am weak, frail, unable to please God, unable to "manufacture" His presence through my supreme giftedness, He allows me to glimpse His glory nonetheless. Something as simple as a song, or a golf shot, or a good run can become a masterpiece of praise.

We will never achieve perfection, but we can at least have the periodic taste of heaven, serving to humble us and lift our eyes at the same time.

And that makes being a tweener not so bad after all.

Weddings and Hope

It's wedding season! This summer is absolutely filled with them; I already officiated one, attended one other, and am performing two more before the end of August. In addition, I've had to turn down three or four others because of scheduling conflicts.

All told, I probably know of twenty of our students getting married either this summer or in December/January.

Some of my colleagues dislike weddings; they require a great deal of time and energy on the weekends, which are already busy and stressful for most ministers.

I actually enjoy weddings. For one thing, each one is like a big reunion; former students and current students and old friends gather together in one place. I always tell prospective grooms to absorb the moment, partly because it will be the last time before their funeral that this many friends and family are gathered together at the same place.

But weddings are also an incredibly hopeful time. In a day and age in which divorce is rampant and even most intact families are dysfunctional, it is always nice to be involved in guiding a young man and young woman in the process of making a lifelong commitment. On that one day, hope resonates so strongly within them and everybody present. I always pray that this couple will beat the odds and glorify the Lord with a marriage that really lasts "till death do us part." I have optimism for these students who desire to walk with Jesus, that they will overcome the cynicism and faithlessness of their parents' generation and create a new standard for marriage, a fresh start, a godly home for the benefit of their children and grandchildren.

God, give them the perseverance, the faithfulness, the love for You that will be required for such a countercultural and supernatural task.