Practicing Faith
My fourth-grade son began playing the cello this fall. Every week, he gets a lesson from a brilliant and dedicated teacher during his school day. It’s a remarkable and life-giving gift to form him and his Davenport Community School District classmates not only as musicians, but learners and humans. My son started with several weeks of just plucking at the strings and learning where his fingers needed to go in order to make the various notes. But after getting comfortable with this, his teacher taught him how to use the bow. When I asked him how it was going, he said, “it feels weird. But I’m developing my muscles.”
The muscles of his hands never before stretched like they do when they hold down the broad stings of his cello. He’d never had to curve his fingers to hold the bow as he is doing it now. It was uncomfortable and strange for him. It felt weird. But he believed that as he developed his muscles, he’d get there. With the encouragement of his teacher, he trusts that with practice and commitment, he’ll be able to do what they need to do to make music. He has a conviction that, with time and practice, he can make that cello sing with melodies.
In many ways, our lives of faith are similar. When we follow Jesus, we are asked to take up new practices that might not always be comfortable or familiar. The stuff of loving our neighbor, praying for our enemies, giving ourselves away, feeding hungry people, standing up for what is right, or hanging out with people who are so very different from us – it might feel weird, at least at first.
When we take our faith seriously, we are led to adventures that challenge us. God longs for us to keep growing, to strengthen our faith. This can feel odd, or strenuous, and even exhausting, but as the muscles of our heart and mind get used to it, there’s a joy that comes. As we develop those muscles we need for curiosity, generosity, listening, advocacy or serving, it gets easier and maybe even delightful.
At the end of his letter to the Philippians, Paul writes about holding fast to faith and living the ways of Jesus. He says, “Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you” (Philippians 4:8-9, NIV).
Put it into practice. We don’t have to get it right immediately. In fact, we’ll never do anything if we wait for perfection. We don’t have to wait until we have it all figured out. Instead, we start out like a beginner, living with a little more faith, even (maybe especially) when it feels weird. Just like my son on his cello, as we develop our muscles for love, God will make beautiful and life-giving goodness in us and through us.
-Sara Olson-Smith, associate pastor
Anne Budde
Sara – Loved everything about this – thank you! Full of wisdom and hope!
Phyllis Hofer
Thank you, Sara for reminding me to start exercising those muscles that have become weak!
Marcia Willi
Sara,
Thanks for the lesson on “ perfection “! I am one who sits around waiting for things to be perfect, rather than just starting
Marie Stephens
Thank you for continuing to stretch your heart and share your light with us, Sara!
Happy Thursday to you!
Marie
Sue Grove
Oh, Sara, I love and will hold that thought – developing our muscles for love.
Deborah Lamp
Pastor Sara such a good reminder of what we as Christians should do. Thank you!