Expressing Peace. Hearing Peace. 26.
Hearing Peace – Duets
I was hearing peace when Aunt Midge shared her story of Vivian, the pianist.
Vivian, a career church organist and talented pianist, was new to Aunt Midge’s church of 60+ years. When Vivian learned that Midge was a piano instructor, she invited Midge to “play duets with me.” Vivian was 98 years old.
Midge demurred initially, feeling under-skilled. Vivian persisted. Aunt Midge yielded.
Midge’s face lit up when she said, “I had the best time. It improved my playing. We played duets for a year or more. Then Vivian turned 100.”
Midge’s eyes searched beyond the room’s ceiling, as if she was hearing her duets with Vivian. “We kept playing. Often as we could. Then Vivian turned 101. And I had my heart attack and had to stop playing for a while.”
I heard neither regret nor resentment nor denial in Midge’s voice. Only acceptance, seasoned with gratitude.
“After a while I was able to get back to playing with Vivian. Not as often, but it was so nice. Then Vivian turned 102. Then, three weeks ago, Vivian died.” Aunt Midge’s face showed the strong acceptance that physical death is not “the end.”
“I heard that the day before Vivian died, her grandson visited her. He asked, ‘Grandmother, what would you like to do?’ Vivian answered, ‘I’d like to go outside and listen to the birds singing.'” Aunt Midge smiled. “As Vivian aged and became weaker, she had become totally deaf. When we played duets, she only heard with her memory.
“So Michael wheeled Vivian through the community room, and they approached the piano. Vivian said, ‘Michael, let me play the piano a bit.’ She played Abide with Me, and when she finished she said, ‘This piano’s out of tune.’ She said that every time we played our duets.
“‘Michael asked if Vivian still wanted to go outside. ‘Yes, of course. Let’s go listen to the birds.’ They did. As Michael wheeled Vivian back to room, he asked if the time outside was pleasant. ‘Oh yes. The birds sounded so happy, so lovely. Their songs are wonderful compositions by GOD.'”
Aunt Midge looked down at her hands folded in her lap. “Isn’t it wonderful that Vivian was able to hear on her last day.”
Sweet Sounding Spirit,
you bless us with so many forms of music:
songs and poems, birds and wind,
ocean waves and trickling streams,
children laughing,
raindrops splashing,
donkey’s braying, cowbells ringing,
trains passing…
And you bless us with the beautiful power to hear.
You give us the power to know the connection
to hear with heart.
Thank you that we receive the clear melody
of your Love, your Joy, your Grace, your Presence
in all we are, all we do, all we have.
We adore the blessing, GOD, that we can hear.
And so it is. Amen. Amen.
Enjoy Peace. Express Peace.
In: Beauty, Happiness, Healing, Inner Peace, Joy, Music, Peace, Prayer, Song, Spirituality · Tagged with: Affirmations, Faith, Joy, Peace, spiritual simplicity
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