About five weeks ago I walked across the street to our neighbor’s house and asked her if she would be willing to teach me to play the violin, enough so that I could play Christmas carols by next December. I had once taken lessons and been able to play, but in the many years since, I had forgotten even the fingering of the instrument.

My neighbor is a viola and voice musician and very accomplished. She was surprised by my visit, and probably even more surprised by my request, but she agreed to take me as a pupil. I began with “Lesson one, Book one.” The practicing started as short spurts, as I’m not used to it; but it became longer and longer as I saw some tiny, but to me enormously important improvement. I had wondered if I could possibly fit these lessons and this practicing into my already somewhat full life, but found that the discipline was inspiring me to do more, rather than less.

St. Paul wrote about the life in Christ as a learning and growing experience: Christ Jesus, who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship, or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger, or sword?. . . No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loves us. ( Romans 8:34-37).

When I told a friend that I am taking violin lessons, she asked, “Really? How’s that working out for you?” I just smiled and said, “I think I’m making progress.” “Well, good luck!” she responded. I thought that I probably shouldn’t share the news with too many people; but if I’m asked the same thing again, I’ll say, “I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength” (Philippians 4:13) My “trials” cannot be compared with Paul’s, but his call for us to place our confidence in the intercession of Christ to become conquerors through the love that he has for us; convinces me that I’m not alone in any of my endeavors. The Apostle John wrote, We love because He first loved us. (1 John 4:6) That love is all embracing, as is the character of God Himself. Both Paul and John express the height and depth of the love of Christ as being inexhaustible as well as supportive and even instructive. The more we lean upon Him, the more he supplies.

During Holy week may we reflect on His wonderful, enabling love.

Love in Him,

Prue