Guitar: a Friend for Life

A young teen i know is reluctantly taking guitar lessons; he mopes along and neglects to apply himself. Maybe guitar isn’t his thing, I don’t know—but I wish to encourage him, because for me, the guitar has been a loyal, lifelong friend—and even during two long, lonely decades of neglect when i didn’t touch the instrument, my guitar waited faithfully in the corner. 

Hard to believe I went so long without playing. An obsessive focus on Work took it’s toll.

Now that I’m back, here’s what I’ve found (remembered): There have been moments of sorrow, moments of loneliness, moments of regret, when yes, I have turned to God and He has helped in his inimitable way, as only He can muster recovery; and yet in those passages, found remarkable consolation with my good friend, the guitar. An avenue of expression, a channel of consolation, a valve of release, a spout for tears, a conduit of sorrows, a purge of emotion, —a lovely distraction, amiable alliance, tool of expression, isle of enjoyment, friend. 

The guitar is my friend—and once again, yes once again—do not forget this, mister Dirk: it was GOD who reminded me to pick up the guitar after decades of neglect. God told me, ‘Not for fame nor profession—this is between you & me: just practice guitar’. And to the degree that I have obeyed God–my counsellor, mentor, my Father—to the degree that i have followed his advice, in direct proportion has my joy blossomed. Less than a month into practicing after decades of neglect, I sat upstairs in our tiled bathroom (love to play in that reverb room), —i sat playing with tears rolling my cheeks, choked up over the forgotten joy of ‘just practicing’, of playing my guitar.

I would be more fruitful if I followed Him more often. Even at my age, i am an apprentice—still seeking, still learning, still experiencing, still growing, still surprised and delighted by his thoughtful caring grace and guidance. 

And so too for you: God loves you. And he likely has some type of guitar for you.

0

0