176th Reflection💬

“Along the faith journey, every step, is full of suffering and pain❓”

If suffering and pain last too long, our thoughts and actions, may be wrong.

......

24/05/2021 (Mon) 18:00 Hong Kong International Institute of Music

Applied Music Class

Teacher said, “Alright, play the new one.”

I said, “Over the Rainbow?”

Teacher said, “Sit closer to the piano.”

I moved my seat forward.

Teacher said, “Start with your right hand.”

I played 12 bars of the melody with my right hand.

I said, “How is it?”

Teacher said, “Lower your shoulder.”

I lowered my shoulder.

Teacher said, “Alright, left hand.”

I played 12 bars of combinations of broken chords and block chords.

I said, “How is it?”

Teacher said, “Is the score too hard to read?”

I said, “No.”

Teacher said, “Why did you bend your waist so much and get that close to it?”

I said, “I got very close to it, didn’t I?”

Teacher said, “Yes, you aren’t reading but smelling it.”

I smiled in embarrassment.

Teacher said, “Straighten your waist and look forward.”

I straightened my waist and looked forward.

Teacher said, “Both hands.”

I played the 12 bars with both hands.

Teacher said, “You’re not familiar with the excerpt enough. Why did you play so fast? You made your hands so tense.

I said, “Tense?”

Teacher said, “Yes, you moved so much, your lower arm, your upper arm, so many parts altogether.......only fingers are enough.”

I smiled in embarrassment.

Teacher said, “No wonder why you always say you get pain over your body after practices.”

I smiled in embarrassment.

Teacher said, “Waist straight, eyes forward, hands relaxed, tempo slow, metronome 60, both hands, try again.”

......

Another me said, “Is there any skilful pianist that hasn’t sweated blood along their journey to success?”

I said, “No.”

Another me said, “Is there any Christian that hasn’t been enduring ceaseless pain and suffering along their faith journey on earth?

I said, “Yes.”

Another me said, “Who?”

I said, “I’m the one.”

Another me said, “Why?”

I said, “Correct the wrong thoughts in my mind. Then, suffering stops; correct the wrong acts by my hands and feet. Then, pain stops.”

Another me said, “How do you know the wrong?”

I said, “Suffering and pain tell me!”

Another me said, “But you can’t correct the wrong by just knowing it. How do you do the correction?”

I said, “Ask God in my prayers; Ask people with my mouth.”

Another me said, “Why do we have to bother God and people around us? How do you know my own prescription doesn’t work?”

I said, “If your own prescription works, why does your suffering and pain last so long? What is the prescription of your own that you are taking? Poison?”

Another me said, “Why are you that angry? It’ll be alright if I ask God in prayers and people with my mouth?”

I said, “Shown the right way after asking, take it, please!”