Last week during a piano lesson, I was teaching a student about rests in the music. I was explaining that for there to be a real rest, he would have to let go of the piano key completely. For some reason this is very difficult even for advanced students, everyone has the tendency to hang on to the note until striking the next one.
Rests in music are very important, they create space in between sound and also anticipation for the next note. As musicians we can use them to create a lot of interest and depth to our music.
As I heard myself tell this particular student, “You have to let go to really rest,” I smiled as I caught the bigger truth in the statement. We all have a hard time with this concept!
How often I have thought, “I’ll sit down after I finish this one more thing!” I probably should just let it go. The harder I hold on to things the less rest I have. Have you found that to be true in your own life?
I am always amazed by Jesus. He didn’t heal everyone. Sometimes I’ll be reading about His life and want to question Him, “Jesus you forgot some of them, look at all those crowds that were waiting to be healed.” He knew what He was doing though, He knew He didn’t come to earth to physically heal everyone, but to be a sacrifice to heal the whole world’s souls. He had to let go sometimes and rest. If even Jesus had to let go and rest, that probably means we should too.
As rests in music create space between sound, so also can rests in our life create space for us to truly appreciate and process our life. As we learn to rest, it also gives us a chance to hear God’s still, small voice and receive the amazing love He has for us. Then we have the energy to go on again, making beautiful music with our lives.
“Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed. Simon and his companions went to look for Him, and when they found Him, they exclaimed: ‘Everyone is looking for you!’ Jesus replied, ‘Let us go somewhere else–to the nearby villages–so I can preach there also. That is why I have come.'” Mark 1:35-38
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