For those of you that attended Avalon’s Christmas services you witnessed one of the greatest musical moments in my life and I just wanted to say a few things about it.
I had the privilege of playing “Christmas Eve Sarajevo 12/24” by the Trans-Siberian Orchestra on the guitar with a Mr. Dusty Beach. I was so focused that week on learning my stuff that I didn’t really have time to let the whole thing sink in of what I was actually going to be doing. But now that it’s over I’ve had some time to think about it.
I’ve been thinking a lot about when I first started playing guitar and how frustrated I was to not be able to play the things that I wanted to play. I remember the hours and hours I would spend practicing in my room, much to the discomfort of my family’s ears. I remember when I first learned to play “Smells Like Teen Spirit” by Nirvana or “Today” by the Smashing Pumpkins and how I would just wear those songs out because I was so exciting that I actually learned a song. And a few years later I crossed over to the bass and learned that it can be just as fun to back up really good guitar players as well as be one. I am always excited when I get to see someone wailing on a solo and I’m standing in the back thumping away at a tight rhythm and they get to do their thing. I think I just like being a part of something big. Part of it too was that I never really thought I would be a good guitar player, because mediocre guitar players can make great bass players, and I was fine with that.
After we played the TSO songs for the last service I had this memory flashback of when I was sitting in my room trying to stretch my hand to form chords and being very discouraged at my ability that everyone kept telling me was a “God-given” talent. If God has given me this talent, why is it so hard? I would ask myself. Well I got my answer. If I had just immediately picked up the guitar and was able to shred an melt faces then I wouldn’t have been so humbled and thankful to be a part of that service.
Newsflash!!! God is smarter than we are.
No matter what you are going through and what may seem very discouraging and tough. If you’re being stretched or if literally you’re stretching your hands and fingers, God has a reason for it. Only when we take the time to stop and look around do we see why. And I know it’s a hard pill to swallow at the time, but when you look at it in the grand scheme of things it makes so much more sense.
What are you hoping for, what are you struggling with, what is discouraging you? Just tell yourself, God is smarter than I am and do I trust him. If you do, then it’s all going to work out. It may take 13 years of playing guitar, or it may happen sooner than you think, just remember where you came from when that times comes.
Peace
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