LEARNING AT THE POTTER'S WHEEL

We were reading Scripture at breakfast this morning. My 7 year old wanted to share a song he had learned. It was a really sweet song; he sounded whispy and airish as he tried to mimick the recorded music he had heard. He did a pretty good job imitating the style, and he asked me what I thought.

“That was great B!” Then I went on to describe how God had created the lungs within his chest cavity to resound with the vibrations of music and how we could use them to create music. “You don’t just have to sing from your throat or mouth and sound breathless. Sing with joy! Use the full range of what God has given you.” I paused searching for words and continued, “Sing with abandon, like it doesn’t matter what anyone thinks of you. Sing like no one is listening . . . but God!”

Then I showed him how to sit up straight, lift his rib cage, place his palms against the underside of the table and push (without actually lifting the table). "Now," I said, "Sing like you don’t care who hears you."

“Try again,” I encouraged him. As we listened, something wondrous happened. A full voice rang out with a new song. I was amazed at the difference. He didn’t need my look of approval to tell him that this was beautiful.

It reminded me how often I’ve cloaked my walk in garments designed to garner men’s praise. Whether I was avoiding conflict, seeking approval or just trying to fit in, so many times I lived my life as though the estimation of another person was the ultimate gain or loss.

Yet, those times when I have cast it all aside for love of HIM . . .
When I danced like no one was watching,
or sang like no one was listening,
or gave without reserve,
or rejoiced without care . . . .
THAT’s when I’ve felt HIS smile!
That’s when heart memories of things I was made for
reverberate and echo notes I’ve never heard,
but know.