Musician's Muse: Seeing life in a different octave

A friend lamented briefly today that he felt as though he had "wasted years" by not putting in sufficient effort during his earlier years of musical education. He shared that when he had finally worked up a passion for music, the perceived lack in his foundation was discouraging to him.

Somehow, his lamentation left a deep impression on me. I was mildly unsettled by it. Was it because I felt for him? Perhaps. Was it because I could relate to it in one way or another? Perhaps - no - probably, I could. But more than that, I was intrigued by what our mistakes in life could mean.

Picture by Victor Bezrukov

For most musicians, making "mistakes" in a well-rehearsed-for performance usually means playing the wrong notes - or what sounds wrong to the listeners' ears. However, most seasoned performers know that there is a way of redeeming themselves so that their mistakes actually sound like they were a planned part of the performance. Some geniuses improvise so confidently and smoothly that the mistakes even turn into hallmarks of character and innovational interpretation. Performers don't just stop playing to mourn! There is no time for regretting that split second that was - because the present moment is too precious to be jeopardised. Time ticks on. The audience continue to watch with bated breaths. The critics continue to make notes. And the final applause awaits.

No, I am not trivialising mistakes. There are certainly fatal mistakes in life that we must be careful not to make - because the consequences are too costly to bear. We should also not make a habit (or lifestyle) of the same old mistakes - giving ourselves excuses to accept them as OK. Even in music, precision is still precision - and personally, I feel that precision is powerful. However, I believe that it is still possible to see the mistakes that we have made unintentionally and therefore, those "wasted years", from a different angle. All those sad and sometimes ugly things can yet contain beauty and potential - particularly when we surrender them to God.... simply because He is the perfect Genius when it comes to turning mistakes into the hallmarks of His power and glory - to be savoured by those who trust and love Him.

Wasted years - if any - do not have to stay wasted. There is still hope for those wasted years. 

In Christ, eternal life is a NOW while it is a YET TO COME. And now encompasses yesterday. In Christ, an abundant life is found, the tapestry of which those wasted years may be woven into by the invisible hands of a gracious and merciful God.

Subsequently, life may be seen in a different octave. Play the adjacent C and C# notes simultaneously - and they clash unappealingly like gnashing teeth. Play the C note one octave higher (instead of the one a semitone down from C#) - and a pretty Major 7th chord sounds. Although this may not be the best analogy, life in Christ enables us to choose to play the C note one octave higher - and thus, the sweet C#Maj7 chord - so to speak! The ugly and unappealing may be redeemed.

If you are not a musician, don't bother yourself trying to understand the above paragraph. It was just a musician's muse. :)