The Music of Our Lives

This morning I read an interesting thought from Max Lucado, a bestselling inspirational author. I quote it here: 

“In his later years Beethoven spent hours playing a broken harpsichord. The instrument was worthless. Keys were missing, strings stretched. It was out of tune, harsh on the ears. Nonetheless, the great pianist would play till tears came down his cheeks. You’d think he was hearing the sublime, and he was. He was deaf. Beethoven was hearing the sound the instrument should make, not the one it did make.”

This got me thinking. Our lives are a lot like music—they can be a sweet sound, a gentle melody, a catchy chorus—to others. 

I suppose I’m thinking about this because just a few hours ago I lost some music in my life—I lost a young cousin to cancer. He was a devoted husband, a gentle father, a loyal son, reliable older brother, respected lawyer, courageous patient, and at 50--to young to say "goodbye." When I think about Paul, I hear the music of his life—the music of his laughter, a keen sense of humor, a happy-go-lucky demeanor, a love of his daughters, art, art history, law, music, and then there was that perpetual dimpled smile that appeared permanently etched on his face. It was the kind of smile that naturally triggered your smile.

Like a song, we are known by our melody and our chorus. Perhaps we’re a chorus of encouragement when someone has lost their courage; a friend relentlessly committed to “being there” when there’s nothing more crippling than being alone; a counselor who sheds light when we’re lost in the darkness of uncertainty; or a confidant who keeps our secrets--secret.

Today, more than ever, it occurs to me that our lives can be a bit like music to others—a favorite song—that they never tire of hearing.

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SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT:  Ever think about how your life is like music to others? What do you think your family and friends hear when they listen to the music of your life?

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