General Update

 

From Paul:

Cycle 7 Week 2

This Christmas season has been a blessing to me personally. In previous years I prepared some Christmas music on the organ and provided a concert at our church in my efforts to light the world a little. The last time I did it was probably in 2019. This year, Doris expressed her support and encouragement for me to do it again. That means time that I would devote to practicing – at home at our church. Until the last couple of weeks I practiced at home. I used my headphones because I recognize that listening to somebody practice is tiring. I discovered something that I found useful in the course of my preparation. I have a metronome app on my phone, which I can use to ramp up the tempo on my music, as I used to during my college days. It works even with headphones, because while I am hearing the organ through the headphones, inside my right headphone I have my Beats Studio bud in my right ear. I can hear the metronome tick and work up the consistency in tempo and push the tempo higher in a systematic way.

This week as I considered how to work this program, I thought about having an introduction of the songs and share some information, but after discussing it with Doris, she was more in favor of having some program notes, which I added for everybody to read during the presentation. The program lasted about 30 minutes, which is right about at the limit of what Doris can endure.

I had a spiritual experience as I worked up the program notes, because a scripture came to my mind that I felt I should share. The program had a song that was composed by Paul Manz, called “God of Grace”. I had the impression earlier that I should share a song not noted as being a Christmas song last – “Amazing Grace”. The scripture that I added to the notes was 2 Nephi 25:23

“For we labor diligently to write, to persuade our children, and also our brethren, to believe in Christ, and to be reconciled to God; for we know that it is by grace that we are saved, after all we can do.”

The music I selected included some songs that have a long tradition, in some cases, a legendary origin. What they have in common is a witness of the mission of Jesus Christ, the Savior of the world.

I hope in some way the music of Christmas blesses your life, as it bears witness to your soul that Jesus came to save. His sacrifice blesses and lifts us. His love is unbounded.

From Doris:

I have been reminded that even Jesus Christ gained wisdom during His mortal life. 

 Luke 2:52

And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man.

One of the most important lessons I have learned from my cancer journey is that I am not in control of my life. God is. 

Being diagnosed with a type of cancer for which there is no screening has been a necessary part of my tutorial. I could not have prevented this cancer from occurring. 

For a person who likes to think she is in control of her life because of the choices she makes, my cancer is a stark reminder that I never have been and never will be in control of my life.

The only real control I have is trusting that God will help me navigate the course of my life. I am not alone. My grief, my pain, and every part of this journey is designed to refine me and to help me increase in wisdom and in favor with God.