Today’s Word from Pastor Tom Kidd
So, what do you do after church (thank you Pastor Eileen) on a cold, windswept, rainy Sunday morning? (In case you have forgotten, the Seahawks have already ignoramusly flamed out!) You listen to Beethoven’s 9th Symphony, all 1:21:22 of it. The Chicago Symphony, under the direction of Riccardo Muti, September 18, 2014, is a favorite. Actually, lest I sound too erudite or knowledgeable, it was the first time I listened to Beethoven’s creation in its entirety so it has to be my favorite rendering. Anyway, it is an amazing creation, often cited as his greatest work. Maestro Muti was pretty cool as well. Much can be written of Beethoven’s genius that could “hear,” despite his inability to hear.
The Ninth Symphony was first performed in 1824. Beethoven was totally deaf by 1816. His loss of hearing came over him gradually beginning in 1798, around the age of 28. As his hearing diminished, he worked feverishly, sometimes on multiple works at the same time. Because of his deafness, Beethoven never heard one of his most acclaimed works. He died in 1827, at age 56.
Amanda Gorman, Youth Poet Laureate, whose reading of her work “The Hill We Climb” as a part of the Presidential Inauguration, has equally captured not just my imagination, but the imagination of a nation. In a subsequent interview she was asked if when she writes she sees pictures in her head. She said no; she sees words. Words that, for the listener, convey pictures. Beautiful engaging pictures.
Beethoven saw music notes in his head. Amanda Gorman, who describes herself as “a skinny black kid,” sees words in her head. We all see things in our heads but few of us consider how we might intentionally share those visions that they might be a blessing to others, vis a vis Ludwig and Amanda.
Somewhere back in my Berkeley days (explains a lot doesn’t it?) I came across a simple, mimeographed poster of an obviously poor person of color squatting down digging at the earth. The penciled caption read, “I may not be able to do great things, but I can do small things in a great way.” When my energy for life has flagged, or my resentment level has risen, that picture has often filled my head. It reminds me that I can yet do small things in a great way. I don’t see the music notes of a Beethoven or the words of a Poet Laureate; I see a simple penciled poster that fills my head with meaning even in the face of competing evidence. What do you see? What images fill your head when life seems too void of meaning, too complicated or troubled? Do you see pictures of revenge, retribution, shame, or loss? Or, maybe you see an opportunity for grace. It depends on the picture in your head.
What pictures do you see in your head when reminded how incredibly blessed we are? A beautiful island setting? Family/friends that care for you? Avoiding Covid-19? Your church that remains profoundly generous in the face of challenging self-isolating circumstances? Your dog?
Here’s one for you, “… being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion” (Philippians 1:6). Doesn’t that sound like beautiful music? Like life-giving poetry? Can you see this in your head… despite life’s circumstances that can be disappointing and broken, God has begun a work in us that God will bring to completion. Our growth in grace is God’s work. All I can picture in my head is gratitude.
Pastor Tom
