A Symphony of Love

  Being a musician and lover of music since a very young child, I so appreciate good music in most any style being preformed.  A week or so ago, I went with Kristi to hear her play in the Woodwind Festival at U of Mary.  She played in one of the flute choirs from Century High.  Her group performed well, and received a star rating, so very proud of them.  There was one things I observed over and over as each group got up and performed, how very difficult it is for flutes to be in tune with each other, especially at this young age, as the kids are just learning to 'hear' the pitch correctly.  Kristi's group did pretty good in that department, but there was a few groups that played, I was cringing the whole time.  They had the right notes but were so out of tune it was making my skin crawl.  There's nothing harder to keep in tune than a flute except maybe an oboe.    

(Picture of CHS flute Choir at Woodwind Festival at the U of Mary. Kristi is the one with the blue shirt showing around her waist.  She missed the memo about wearing all black. Oops)

   

  I got to thinking about that this morning, and saw it in a deeper meaning.  Isn't that how life is?  Isn't that how families operate?  Isn't that how the church works?

   Sometimes, we're all playing the right notes, but someone is out of tune.  Just not quite there, and it makes the whole group sound bad.  

     In the natural, here's an example in a family unit: A mom gets sick with the flu, and suddenly the house is falling apart, the meals are getting kind of sketchy, the laundry is piling up (ok, I know I'm stereo typing here to make a point.)  

  

     Here's another thought though, what about a band or orchestra who is playing together under the direction of a conductor, but suddenly the piccolo player (I'm picking on flutes and piccolos cause that's what I play) suddenly decides she doesn't want to play that soft melodic piece they're practicing together, and she wants to play the solo from the John Philip Souza's Stars and Stripes Forever (which by the way, is really a fun solo to play).  She may be playing all the notes right in perfect tune, but it's not the right piece to be playing, she's just wanting attention and everyone to be focusing on her.  You've seen it haven't you.  In a family: when someone in the family group gets so self centered, and thinks the world revolves around him or herself.  Feels everyone should bow to them, and do what they want, when they want it, and how they want it.  That person maybe two or forty two, but it still sounds awful.  We can kind of expect it and forgive it when it's a two year old, but in an adult, it's ugly and disgusting, and people are rolling their eyes in disgust, but the person doing it, can't seem to see what the problem is and continually blames others for his or her behavior.  (The victim) 

     How about a church situation,  when some member gets disgruntled about something, usually petty, and wants to make life miserable for everyone else.  They complain and cause strife where ever they go, trying to tear apart the body of Christ.  We've all seen it happen over and over.

    When talking to Kristi this morning about this very subject, she brought up another scenario.  Last year, when she was taking band at Mandan High School, at one of their concerts, they did a combined song with all three concert bands.  Because of the large group, and how they had to set it up on the stage, they used both conductors.  The piece they were playing was "Pirates of the Caribbean" and the conductors had a little fun with it, and came out dressed like pirates, and conducted with plastic swords.  The point Kristi brought out was, that Mr Boehm and to keep his eye on Mr Bauman all the time, to make sure every down beat was together.  She brought out how Jesus, is the main conductor leading the whole thing, but he put pastors out there to lead the band, and they must keep their eyes on Jesus so they get the down beats together.  Of course the band members all need to keep their eyes on the director to come in at the right time.  When it's done correctly it was beautiful music. 

      I could go on and on with illustrations of music and life, but there's a story I want to share from yesterday.  Yesterday, I heard a symphony so beautiful from the hearts of friends and family in South Dakota, I was brought to tears.  Yes, there was the great conductor Jesus leading it all, saying over and over, "I love you Kelley."  But he used other conductors and players to play the tune.  He used MaryJo Truax, to come up with the tune.  The name; A Benefit Meal and Auction for Todd Reuer's Family.  She recruited players of all kinds to play this wonderful piece.  There was Jim Hauck who cooked his awesome meal, and all the players that supported his section, with preparation, and serving and clean up.  There were all those that came and donated money so they could eat the awesome food.  All those player working behind the  scene, making this symphony sound beautiful, that I didn't even see them all at work.

 One of the donated pictures that was auctioned off, on display at the church.

Sweet MaryJo, who God used to organize the event.  Love you girlfriend!!

      There was the second movement of the piece that involved Todd Ulmer auctioning off items that so many people had donated. I have to say, those were the most expensive pies I've ever seen, and I hope they tasted as good as every penny you paid for!  Oh, I won't forget those 10 expensive pairs of gloves!  Somehow I wish I could have wrote on the back of each of those gloves, "When I wear these, it means I showed love to Kelley and her family, and almost won a great gun!"  

 Todd Ulmer auctioning off a pair of gloves.  If you wanted a chance at the rifle, you had to win a bid on a pair of gloves. Those were some expensive gloves!!

 Brady Bickel modeling this very cool hand bag for the auction. Nice!

Traci winning the final bid on a canvas print of Todd's Ropes.  

      Each one came, each one shared, each one gave. There was no one shouting, "Look at me, I want all the attention here."  Each one giving so generously.  I was humbled, I was touched beyond words, all I could do was weep.  Some of them had known Todd much longer than me, having grown up with him.  Some didn't even know Todd or I, but still came to support and have a great meal.  All I can say was it was the most beautiful piece of music I've ever heard, and not a actual musical note was played.  It was the song of love.  It was a song of support.  It was a song to some that said, "You and Todd gave to us, now we want to give back to you, we love you and so does Jesus."  

    But I have to confess something.  It was a song I was terrified to go and hear.  It started really hitting me the night before. I was so scared.  It's hard to explain, but I've always liked being on the other end of things, the giving end.  I've loved being the one planning and giving to someone else.  The Bible truly is correct in saying "It's more blessed to give than receive."  I never can understand people that don't like to give, they just don't know what they're missing out on.  Maybe a lot of you don't view me as a giving person, cause Todd and I didn't do a lot of our giving (financially) with loud trumpet sounds for everyone to hear.   It was the more like finding a need, and meeting it, and not letting anyone else know about it.   I can't tell you how much fun we had, finding out about something, secretly taking care of it, and then hearing the person tell us about a miracle that just happened.  We'd just smile and rejoice with them never letting them know we played a part.  That's giving at its finest, and I don't plan to change the pattern Todd and I always lived in that area.  Of course there was times we couldn't figure out how to keep it secret, but just gave anyway.

       But this time, I had to switch rolls and be the end of the receiver, that's always been an uncomfortable role for me.  Maybe cause it's having to face the message that it brought, that God truly loves me, and cares about me.  I know that in theory, but sometimes the reality gets garbled in my mind.  That was a fact that Todd always had so clear.  He told me his first verse he learned as a little child was "I love Him, because He first loved me."  Todd not only had that verse memorized but it was reality, a revelation of truth in his life that radiated his every being.  He spent 32 years showing me what that means, and yesterday a whole group of people carried on Todd's love.

     I guess I said all these words just to say THANK YOU!!! from the bottom of my humbled weeping heart to everyone that came, that gave, that did anything to help, to show me and the kids what love is in action. Thank You for that beautiful symphony of love.   Like Tyson told me, when I struggled about the whole thing, "Mom, just let them do it, it's not about the money, it's they just want to show you that they love you and they support you."  You all did that in a BIG way, and I  can't say thank you enough.  I love you all!  Thank you, thank you, thank you!  

 People enjoying the wonderful meal by Jim Hauck.

 Kitchen crew. Jim is the center putting sandwiches together.  Larry Thompson, Lenette Thompson, Jim Schlekeway, I can't tell who the other man is with his back to the camera.

 Long time good friends: Lori Brockel and Jackie Dale, oh yah me in the middle.

 Auctioning off "Slave Labor" These young men and young lady will "serve time" for the lucky winner of the bid.

 My Home School friend Denette Vander Vorst made this beautiful "Quilled" picture. (Bill Bickel is holding up) somebody went home with this wonderful work of art!!

 The "Homeschool foursome."   Kristi's best buds growing up in Mobridge. Elissa S, Jaden B, Tanner D, and Kristi

The mom's of the Homeschool Foursome!  Brave women! Lori B, Kelley (me), Becky S, Jackie D. (These three women (and several others not pictured) have been with me through thick and thin the last 20+ years.  Friends with major history, and still love me. There's not many that know my heart like these three. Love you all!!)