Today was my first piano lesson. Well, my first intentional piano lesson. I had a smattering of it in the Navy, to the great amusement of my classmates who dubbed me “Mittens”. We do have a piano at home, which was my mother’s. All the John Thompson method books remain in the piano bench. I have had the occasional, feeble attempt at getting more fluent on the keys, but it never stuck. So, I am at it again, because a dear sweet lady at our church thinks I’m worth the time and effort. She has taught students for some three-score years. Although I have been able to play certain chords (right hand only), I never stayed with keeping my fingers in the right places. Now, I will strive to learn the proper way, which will hopefully lead to the dexterity I never mastered. I will finally achieve muscle memory.

Muscle memory, don’t you see, is not specific to athletics or sports. It’s true for handbells too, especially the “two-in-hand” and “weaving”, the more advanced techniques. It was true in learning to play steel drums. And it is true in exercising and practicing our spiritual muscles. Those “Seven Habits of Jesus”, or any other list of disciplines to increase faith. When we fall out of practice – fall out of the habit of going to worship because it doesn’t seem to make a difference, do the same with prayer and devotion because we don’t hear God or sense His presence – we lose our muscle memory. We lack the commitment to move beyond feeble starts, like the smoker who says, “quitting is easy; I’ve done it thirty-seven times.” Discipleship involves putting in the time. Daily discipline. Stretching those faith muscles. Believing that the God who leads you to challenges also sees you through them. It doesn’t necessarily mean being the resident subject matter expert on all faith matters. It means submitting to the higher power that stands ready to help you accomplish all things according to His divine, good purpose for you. It means everlasting joy, not “smatterings” of happiness. God does not leave us idle, but instead presents opportunities for new learning and growth. And man, does the church need that now! f

May God bless and encourage you. He will not let you stumble or fall, at least not figuratively! When the scars and wounds of physical body and spiritual soul seem overwhelming, that is where our full reliance on God can pick up the slack. With His unconditional love.

Pastor Art