06.06.09
Summer Airs
Shelving books and putting off reading for a week allowed me to read more of my heart and mind instead. Peering into the depths of my self, and doing solely that, has been a cathartic experience, but I do not deny the literary aphrodisia I feel when I see the unread tomes beckoning from the shelf. Nevertheless, I have survived my retreat from books and the horrors of confronting my inner self.
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The “summer” that initiated during the latter part of April officially ends today as I return to a less-relaxed schedule. I’m afraid I cannot boast of praiseworthy accomplishments within that short period, but there are several things from those pages in life that I’d like to underline and keep here for bethinking in the course of time:
1. Luke Haydn Go Ong came into this world on May 6. His birth was the most awaited event of the year! Born to my “adopted” brother and sister, Lester and Haidee, Luke is the fruit of waiting patiently in the Lord. He is a blessing to all of us and I know I will love this little tyke as if he were my own son.
2. A few weeks after Luke’s birth, Lester’s dad passed away after three years of withstanding cancer. The greatest comfort is that he was able to return to God and prepare for the inevitable during the last days of his life.
Playing music for him the last time we were in Manila is still fresh in my mind, because I remember being so happy and moved after seeing him genuinely smile to the music despite his pain. Not through monumental performances, but through the ministering to the old, the sick, or the needy do I feel most that my music is being used for God’s glory. The memory is a reminder that I should not turn a deaf ear to opportunities when I can share music, because these circumstances do not repeat themselves.
3. Without being aware of my sensitive state, a friend came along for a visit last Sunday just as I was lamenting the extensive distance between me and my closest friends. Bings, my personal psychologist/coffee mate/sister/friend, is one of the very few people with whom I can share sensible and godly conversations. She left for Dumaguete already and will be leaving the Philippines soon, but the time we spent talking over espresso was refreshing to the soul and will be treasured for years to come. (Insert sentimental music here. Hihi)
4. I convinced my mom to take up reading again since we, her kids, are wholly at fault for keeping her for nearly three decades from doing this former love of hers. I have prepared a reading list for her, and oh, is she having a grand season!
5. Summertime is when the house comes alive with guests and summer students. I will miss this particular summer’s air since the activities here at home brought an atmosphere that reminded me of the house-turned-school that Aunt March bequeathed Jo. Ours is shabbier, but the kids do not leave here without learning anything pianowise, violinwise, guitarwise, artwise, bookwise, photographywise, or even Biblewise. I can’t help asking one thing though… Professor Bhaer, where are you? =P
Haha, alright, I just wanted to end on a brighter note. Surely there have been more fruitful and magnanimous summers, but this one made me grow somehow, and for me that’s enough.
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mika said,
June 6, 2009 at 4:09 pm
“through the ministering to the old, the sick, or the needy do I feel most that my music is being used for God’s glory.”
- aww, it’s great you had a chance to do that. it makes me want to look for opportunities to do the same. thanks for the reminder :)
this summer’s been a growing period for me too. so much happened this summer that i can’t believe that it was just two months! though i should have practiced more (hehe), i learned a lot, and that makes me excited about going to school again. (but i don’t want to just yet :P)
Miracle ♪♫ said,
June 7, 2009 at 7:32 am
Hehehe… I understand, Mika. =)
I think we are all given the chance to use music for His glory. Perhaps opportunities vary for each of us… for me its sharing to the old and sick (because they are not discriminating audiences too hard to please haha) and for you it might be ministering to more alert and cultivated ears. The bottom line is, we should always be ready to use music for such purposes.
I played praise songs from sometime in the evening until 1:00 a.m. at the wake of our family friend last night. Usually I can’t stand performing that long in heels. But last night, I didn’t even notice any uneasiness, nervousness, or exhaustion. One’s usual mindset (or heartset) is altered in those situations and it’s when you begin to ask of your other performances, “were they really for God’s glory or mine? How come I feel totally different in performances when my absolute intention is to share or bring comfort?”
bings said,
June 7, 2009 at 12:05 pm
thanks very much, Mee!
You’re one great God’s gift to me… I will forever
keep you close to my heart! ;-)
Miracle ♪♫ said,
June 7, 2009 at 5:14 pm
Ditto, Bings. =)
Thank you, too!
owen said,
June 8, 2009 at 5:24 pm
i didn’t see the horrors of ur confrontation with own self.
If i have such pleasant personality like yours, it will be comforting to see the mirror of my inner self. :P
God bless
Miracle ♪♫ said,
June 8, 2009 at 6:14 pm
Hahaha… thank you, Owen. That’s very sweet of you but unfortunately, we all have our dark sides and the acknowledgement of that fact is rather scary enough. haha May God bless you too, Owen. =)