Thoughts from a Musician's Heart

COLORS SEEMED BRIGHTER

Music has been a part of my life since a very young age. In kindergarten, teachers discovered some musical talent in me and I started study on the piano sometime in the first grade. I started the bassoon in the 4th grade. In the midst of all that musical training I never guessed that I would discover God. I thought that you found God in a church. But that isn't where my life was touched by Him.

I attended a music camp in the Pacific Northwest at the age of 15. A friend of mine had been to a church camp the prior month and his life was dramatically altered through an experience there. When he accepted Jesus into his life he felt a dramatic change. I was familiar with the Bible since I had attended a church for several years with my family. However, I didn't understand much about Jesus's life, how a person could communicate with God, and on the whole I didn't see any relevancy to any of it. However, as we talked more and more it started to make sense.

On a Thursday evening we arrived at the orchestra rehearsal, only to see that the rehearsal was cancelled-first time cancelled for eight years. We went back to our dormitory and talked some more. He lent me his Bible to read that evening. I don't remember the exact moment of the change but sometime that evening I knew that I connected with God; I had found God. I had asked God to change my life and I yielded myself to Him.

I distinctly remember the way in which my mind changed. It was as if a fog had been lifted from my brain. Colors seemed brighter, I began to understand spiritual things in a different way, and for the first time I felt peace in my life. This was a tremendous transformation for me: the greatest I have ever experienced in my life.

After camp, I went back to study piano lessons with Bela Siki. Before I had played more than about two or three phrases he stopped me and said, "Something has changed. Your touch is much more sensitive.” It hadn't occurred to me that my musicality would be changed as well.

Clearly I can't say that I somehow earned that change in my life. I wasn't devoted to a quest to find God and truth.

It is more accurate to say that God sought me rather than I sought God. But now when I look back on my life I realize that there were many times when I felt the presence of God or the pull of His Spirit.

I suspect that if you are honest you will also acknowledge that you have felt the pull of God at times in your life. He has the peace, fulfillment, and happiness you have been searching for. I had a young friend who told me about Jesus and God. Let me be your friend and tell you as well.