Welcome.
I am so grateful you're here.
I'd like to take a moment to invite presence with us here today.
So if you could just close your eyes for a moment and take a nice deep breath in.
And out.
Welcome.
The piano.
There's a story about a little girl who is tinkering at a piano in a mall,
Plunking away at the keys.
She's just learning how to play,
So she is going slowly and making many mistakes.
People walk by,
Some with encouraging smiles,
Some with scowls on their faces,
And some laughing at her.
But she keeps going,
Plinking and plunking away.
Then a man sits down beside her and starts playing along with her.
Filling in the gaps.
He does not correct her or push her out of the way.
He plays alongside her,
Following her pace.
And the music,
The music is beautiful.
For every plink she plays,
The notes he plays circles her,
Dances around,
Filling the whole room like a symphony of sound.
The two playing in harmony.
The music they create is profound,
Inspiring.
People no longer race by.
They stop to listen.
They close their eyes so they can be fully present to the music and the feelings it raises inside of them.
Joy,
Happiness,
Reverence,
Sometimes sorrow.
But always love.
All who pass by are touched by the power of that song.
It changes them.
Now I want you to imagine yourself as that child playing on the piano.
Missing cords,
Plinking and plunking away.
You see people pass by,
Some encouraging.
Some not.
But you don't care.
Because all you want to do is play that piano.
You keep playing because the music is inside you and you want to let it out.
You want to play.
Then you feel someone sit gently beside you.
And he begins to play along with you.
Out of his fingers come the most beautiful notes.
You are still playing your song.
But somehow it has melded with his.
Creating beauty and a joy that fills your heart with love and passion.
You look over and you know him.
You have known him your entire life.
He is God.
And he has joined you in the creation of your song.
He neither pushed his way in or took over your play.
He is gently and quietly playing with you.
He has been playing alongside you your whole life.
It is just now that you notice and you welcome him with an open heart.
Your song is transformed.
You are transformed.
You are not alone in the music you create.
And your music brings that love into the lives of others.
Transforming,
Changing,
Bringing joy and peace into the hearts of others.
Remember today.
To feel the music inside you.
To invite God into your song.
And let that music of your life transform others.
Bring peace and harmony into each moment of your day.
Feel the music.
Inside you.
