I Am Not Really A Piano Player

And so it goes:

I went to college majoring in vocal performance, minor in music therapy. Into my second year, I experienced hoarseness that would last for months and months. I finally was sent to the doctor for exploratory surgery, where they discovered years of abuse on my vocal chords. (I cannot imagine that screaming and yelling would have long term effects!) Intensive speech therapy was recommended...but I was IN college as a VOCAL PERFORMANCE major and did not have time for that! After much soul searching, I decided to focus on music therapy while trying to keep up with voice.

The move to Hawaii to teach music helped give my chords a rest, as well as my soul. I longed to sing...to get better and better, and in Maui is where I started teaching piano. I NEVER EVER wanted to be a piano teacher. That was 32 years ago.

Since then, I have always been the piano player at every church we attended - sort of begrudgingly, as I preferred to SING. Yes, I can sing while I play, but it is not the same.

Today in church, my heart smiled - really and truly. Our sweet little congregation of 80 souls filled my longing-to-sing as I played. Every voice ~ big and small, young and old, on tune and off tune, trained and untrained ~ FILLED the room. It was a sweet chorus to hear from the piano in the front of the church, where I have always wished I was IN the pew singing. From my spot the sweet sound wafting up to the front of the church blesses my heart so much. I tell you, each and every voice can be heard loud and clear, since it is only accompanied by piano.

Where else in this world can you go to hear people sing: (and WE sing each and every beautiful verse)

God, be merciful to me,
On Thy grace I rest my plea;
Plenteous in compassion Thou,
Blot out my transgressions now;
Wash me, make me pure within,
Cleanse, O cleanse me from my sin.

My transgressions I confess,
Grief and guilt my soul oppress;
I have sinned against Thy grace
And provoked Thee to Thy face;
I confess Thy judgment just,
Speechless, I Thy mercy trust.

I am evil, born in sin;
Thou desirest truth within.
Thou alone my Savior art,
Teach Thy wisdom to my heart;
Make me pure, Thy grace bestow,
Wash me whiter than the snow.

Broken, humbled to the dust
By Thy wrath and judgment just,
Let my contrite heart rejoice
And in gladness hear Thy voice;
From my sins O hide Thy face,
Blot them out in boundless grace.

Gracious God, my heart renew,
Make my spirit right and true;
Cast me not away from Thee,
Let Thy Spirit dwell in me;
Thy salvation’s joy impart,
Steadfast make my willing heart.

Sinners then shall learn from me
And return, O God, to Thee;
Savior, all my guilt remove,
And my tongue shall sing Thy love;
Touch my silent lips, O Lord,
And my mouth shall praise accord.

WORTH 32 years for this - thank you God.