Sweet Beginnings

I was sorting through my memory box this morning when I stumbled upon it. A letter-sized, white, sheet of paper, slightly stained with a mysterious substance (I'm guessing chocolate), that made its way into my possession about 9 years ago...

I had only been taking from my new piano teacher for a couple months when she gave me the insurmountable assignment: find a poem I liked, and put it to music. Coming home that morning, I was filled with trepidation. Grapple with the time signature, key signature, and the actual logistics of writing a melody and accompaniment out on a sheet of paper? Much as I loved the idea of composing my own songs, I was certain that a purposeful tune of my own was beyond my abilities.

But an assignment is an assignment. I struggled through the process, eventually finding myself with a piece that fit together, worked with the poem, and met all the theory requirements. Nonetheless, I was disheartened by the result. Benjamin, however, thought "The Captain's Daughter" was wonderful, and could daily be found pounding out the minor tune on the piano, until I finally cried in exasperation: "Ben, write your own piece!"

And so he did. A few days later I found a sheet of paper, folded in quarters, sitting on my bed.

Opening it up, my eyes beheld a two-line tune that switched meter not only unconventionally, but also unnecessarily, considering that the beats did not always add up anyway. I knew as I looked at it that the tune was unplayable - my musical prowess at the time was such that I could not understand playing a piece without the exact beats. Yet, I was touched by the title, and went to find Ben and thank him for "my song." "Yeah, well, I figured that I want to write lots of music, and if I ever get famous, I wanted the first song I had written to be for you," my 9-year-old little brother told me, gazing proudly at the sheet in my hand. I had him play it for me, and then copied his performance to the best of my abilities, using the paper to be sure of the notes. And so Ben's first composition was performed in the quiet of our music room - just he and I, sitting on a piano bench, sunshine warming our backs.

Several years later, in 2010, another piece of his was performed, this time for a much larger audience, when friend Jenny and I played the piano-cello duet he composed specifically for us: "Forgotten Fantasia." And again, this spring, another ensemble of his, "Time," was played by Emmy, Rachel, and friend Jo.

But tomorrow is the real deal. At 3pm, in the sanctuary of Mount Scott Church of God, Benjamin will conduct OPAYCO in the first performance of his orchestral piece, "Battle for Skandia." Exciting, beautiful, and just plain fun, it has been such a privilege to be a participant in the premiering of his music. Tomorrow, as the grin slides over my face in response to the catchy cello motif, or the throb of the timpani beat, or the melancholic measures of the English horn, I'll look at Ben, and remember his first song. I'll remember that afternoon, swinging our bare feet from the piano bench, playing "My Sister Sarah." And I'll be proud of my famous composer-brother.

You Want Cute?

This evening, Madeline asked if she could show Mama and I her new dance that she had made up. With Madeline, this is not an unusual request, so "Sure" was our slightly-preoccupied reply. The following demonstration ensued (please excuse the poor quality, our little p&s was all I had on hand):

She finished it all off by telling us "And then you just do it again and again and again until you get dizzy!"

Do you remember those dances?

It's a Question of Music

This is hilarious! I was blog-surfing and ran across this post idea. I thought it was funny, so here we go! :)

Instructions:
1. Put your iPod or MP3 on shuffle (Hmmm...I just put my iTunes on "shuffle")
2. Press "Next" for each question
3. Use the title of the song to answer the question
4. No cheating (Well, I shan't really cheat, but if the shuffle comes up with one of the sermons I have downloaded, I will skip it...that's not my music).

HOW DO YOU FEEL TODAY?
"Hope" - Michael Card

Hmmm, that's a good thing to feel, I suppose.

WHAT'S YOUR OUTLOOK ON LIFE?
"My Father's Favorite" - Sense and Sensibility soundtrack
Yes, because I am my father's favorite, dontcha know. hehehe

WHAT DOES YOUR FAMILY THINK OF YOU?

"All the Better for Her" - Sense and Sensibility soundtrack
I have a great support team here...

WHAT DO YOUR FRIENDS THINK OF YOU?"
"Joy in the Journey" - Michael Card

Just ask 'em, I'm never stressed, depressed, or sad...just don't talk to me about my upcoming birthday or student recital halls!

WHAT DO STRANGERS THINK OF YOU?
"Impromptu No. 3 in G flat" - Schubert

Because I'm so spontaneous.

WILL YOU GET MARRIED?
"Recovery" - Miss Potter soundtrack

Uh-oh, that doesn't sound promising.

WILL YOU HAVE KIDS?

"Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini" - played by Jenny Oaks Baker
I'm really not sure how to interpret this one, it's a beautiful song, though!

ARE YOU GOOD AT SCHOOL?
"There is Nothing Lost" - Sense and Sensibility again

Meaning, of course, that nothing is lost on me. Even though I have technically graduated, I continue to absorb information the way a sponge absorbs water.
What was the question again?

WHAT SONG SHOULD THEY PLAY ON YOUR BIRTHDAY?
"Walking on Water" - Ever After soundtrack

No. I shall not attempt it.

WHAT SONG SHOULD THEY PLAY AT YOUR FUNERAL?
"The Parish Church Aflame" - the Patriot soundtrack
O goodness me.

THE SOUNDTRACK OF YOUR LIFE:
"God of All" - Twila Paris
Hey, good one!

YOU AND YOUR BEST FRIEND ARE:
"Love Divine, All Loves Excelling" - Herbster Trio
hehehe - well...kind of...I suppose...

HAPPY TIMES:
"God's Own Fool" - Michael Card
It is a good song! Don't be weirded out by the title.

SAD TIMES:

"Waiting for the Lights" - Tangled soundtrack

What?? Why am I still answering these questions??

EVERY DAY:
"She" - Celtic Thunder

Ok...

FOR TOMORROW:
"Oh, Father of Jesus" - Michael Card
Hmmm, another good one.

FOR YOU:
"Home" - Michael Card

Apparently iTunes shuffle likes Michael Card

WHAT DOES NEXT YEAR HAVE IN STORE FOR ME?
"Come By the Hills" - Celtic Thunder
Suweet! I knew it!! Ireland, here I come!

WHAT DO I SAY WHEN LIFE GETS TOO HARD?
"A Time for Us" - Jenny Oaks Baker
I can see it now. The car breaks down, a tree crushes our house, I loose all my music students and break both arms, Joshua switches to viola, and I look around and say "A Time for Us" hehehe.

WHAT DO I THINK WHEN I GET UP IN THE MORNING?
"Cinderella" - Ever After soundtrack

Naturally.

WHAT SONG WILL I DANCE TO AT MY WEDDING?
"Not a Beau for Miles" - Sense and Sensibility soundtrack

Hahaha! I may have no beaus, but I will have a husband!

WHAT DO YOU WANT AS A CAREER?
"The Family Farm" - the Patriot soundtrack

Actually, that would be fantastic!

YOUR FAVORITE SAYING?
"The Park" - Miss Potter soundtrack

Yup. I say it all the time. In fact, said it this morning as I was getting dressed. (???!!!)

FAVORITE PLACE?
"Patience" - S&S soundtrack

Um - this is a flat-out lie. To quote Inigo Montoya, "I hhhhate waiting."

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF YOUR PARENTS?
Haha! The sermon came up "From Trials to Triumph"...but like I said, I'm skipping sermons so...

"Like a River Glorious" - Herbster Trio
Yes, they are like a glorious river that flows...flows... um, yeah ok, it flows.

DESCRIBE YOURSELF:
"A Song for the Night" - Michael Card
No comment. I have no idea what to think of this.

WHAT DO I LIKE DOING MOST?
"To Die for Love" - S&S soundtrack
"To die for love? What could be more glorious?"

WHAT IS MY STATE OF MIND AT THE MOMENT?
"Come to the Table" - Michael Card

there are cookies! and tea!

HOW WILL I DIE?
"Escape Route" - Tangled soundtrack
Note to self: don't bale out of a second story window to evade a spider.

THE SONG THAT YOU'LL PUT AS THE TITLE?
"Marching to Zion" - Herbster Trio
That somehow seems wrong to put as a title for such a post as this. I don't think I will.

Well, you're amazing if you read through all that...It was amusing for me, at least! If you have a couple spare minutes on your hands, it would be fun(ny) to read your lists (but more because I get to know the kind of music you listen to, than because these questions make any sense!) Happy Wednesday!

Everything

“Walking on water? Please, people, this is the 21^st century. Are we really so immature as to believe a story that blatantly defies all science and logic?”

Snickering. Incredulous head-shakes.

Chansen was warming to his theme. Without a doubt, this was one of his most passionate lectures – and he was good at it. It was in this class that he had effectively shaken the naïve and childish beliefs held by so many sheltered subscribers to the Christian fairytale.

“As to the supposed ‘miracle’ of Jesus’ resurrection, that is the most despicable, horrendous, uneducated story of them all,” he continued, emphasizing each adjective with dramatic pauses. “Dead cells do not come to life again. A body cannot function after being dead for three days. With all our modern science, we still don’t have the technology to bring people back from the dead – and a body certainly couldn’t come to life itself. The science of such a claim is completely impossible. C’mon! Do people even think when they tell these stories? No. It’s all too obvious that they don’t.”

With a snort of disgust, he swiveled on his heel toward the whiteboard, swiping a red dry-erase marker off his desk while he turned. As he spun, he noted several of his “religious” students squirming uncomfortably in their seats, and nodded to himself with smug satisfaction.

“Excuse me, Professor Chansen?” a self-assured voice rang out from the back of the classroom. Half-turning to meet the gaze of the questioner, the professor’s eyes lighted on the bright face of Cathurs, a science-savvy student with not a fleck of religious tarnish in him. With a grin, he pointed to the young man, “Yes, Michael, do you have a question?”

“Well, of course you’re correct in your assertions – I think we all realize the futility of claiming observable science is false – but I’m just wondering: In light of the modern times, what difference does it make whether these first-century stories are true or not?"

Chuckling, Chansen turned again to his whiteboard. “If I didn’t know any better, Michael, I’d think you were trying to get out of hearing my finest lecture.” The class tittered as he smoothly popped the marker’s lid off and began to write. “But it’s a good question. Regardless of whether these tales could be true or not – and I hope you all realize how completely illogical such ideas are – does it even matter? What would change, if they were true?” He paused for a moment, contemplating the pithiest phraseology available for answering such a question. And in that moment, briefly, he wondered.

What would change? What difference would it make if an ignorant fisherman in the first century really did walk on water? What discrepancies would one have to admit to if the Red Sea really parted, allowing thousands of people to pass through without so much as a damp shoelace? What points would have to be conceded if a man – who claimed to be God – actually did come to life after three days of lying in a sealed cave, dead and unpreserved?  If one accepted these alleged “miracles” of the Christian faith as true, then he would also have to accept that there truly was a God. A Being who could not be easily dismissed, this God would not be the “one of many” so many religions revered, or even the “clock-winding” god of the Deists. No, if the “religious fairy tales” of Christianity were true, then there was a God who not only created men, women, and the world for a specific purpose (for anyone, whether man, beast, or Being must needs have a reason for creating), but also created it to be run by observing the laws and lines laid out in His ‘inspired word’. If the miracles recorded in such a book were truly brought about by the power of God, then it would mean that, not only had He created and laid the laws for this world – the laws of science – but also that He could and did break them at His pleasure. If the power of this God could and did superimpose His supernatural will on the laws of the universe then it would undoubtedly be true that He, in the form of a man, did die and somehow, mysteriously, come to life an astounding three days later. And if He truly died and rose again, as the Bible said, then the message proclaimed in such a book was indisputably true: that he, Chansen, could never measure up to the unachievable perfection of an unerring God, and was thus required to throw Himself on the mercy of a Being he could not see, or else wallow in endless death for an eternity.

"What would change, if it were true?" His own words, now thick and oppressive, still hung in the air like smoke, choking him. Suddenly weak and shaken, Chansen’s hand fell to his side as he turned, once more, to face the class. “Everything,” he replied, his mouth sandpaper-dry, “It would change everything.”
Photo Credit

You Know That Feeling...

When you ran hard, pushed yourself at the end, and consequently feel rather sick?

That's how I feel right about now.

It's good to run again.
Photo Credit