I often forget that there is a Rock that is Higher than I. Psalm 6: 1-5 God, listen to me shout, bend an ear to my prayer. When I’m far from anywhere, down to my last gasp, I call out, “Guide me up High Rock Mountain!” You’ve always given me breathing room, a place to get away from it all. A lifetime pass to your safe-house, an open invitation as your guest.You’ve always taken me seriously, God, made me welcome among those who know and love you. I often forget that their are arms big enough to hold the universe. Arms that lovingly rush to scoop me up when I allow it. Arms that can stop the winds and the waves in a moments notice or guide me safely through the storms when I stop resisting long enough to permit him to do so. Today, I needed a pause. I didn't see it within reach, but God carved it out in the day especially for the one He loves!
It was during the mad-rush and working with students that we were totally unsuccessful at acquiring Internet access from the bandroom where we were working with a class set of Chromebooks. Fortunately, the teacher was flexible and the auditorium was free. So, we moved our Chromebooks, our lesson and our students to this facility. I was irked. This was not my plan, and it felt like things were getting worse. It wasn't until lunch time that I realized I had misjudged this blessing as a problem. Actually God was giving me quiet time in an amazing location.
The auditorium is a secluded building, separate and overlooked. As the students and the teacher departed, I realized I was alone in this massive place. I had a few moments to catch my breath in a place that held so many memories for me--a place that represented the seasons and milestones of my life. I first entered seventh grade here. It was a junior high, then. All the quirkiness, insecurity and many of the rites of passage that an adolescent experiences happened here. I hated seventh grade. I remembered the many trips to this auditorium afraid to make a sound as went entered on pain of death...or the paddle. Everything was so strict and uptight. I hated this school in those days. I remember standing on that stage and having my drama teacher berate me because my voice was too soft, so I learned to project it. This has proved to be a very helpful tool in my career. My sitting there in this auditorium all these decades later was proof that my mama was right. I not only survived junior high, but I gained from the experience. How interesting hind sight can be! Fast forwarding a bit, I remember very happy times in this auditorium. I was in All County Choral Ensemble, and we frequently performed and practiced in this auditorium with its outstanding acoustics. I loved singing and watching Mr. Tripp McGill direct us. He will always have a special place in my heart as he cultivated and nurtured my love of music! A little further down the road, I am a mom whose daughter is performing on this same stage in her cherished All County Choral Ensemble experience. She was radiant and has an even more distinct and natural musical talent that her father and I do. If I could plunge into the future to this time next year, my precious niece (who reminds me so much of my baby sister) would be here, and no doubt grace this same auditorium where she will build her own memories!
So, there I sat in Holbrook's Auditorium with this gift from a loving Father: time to reflect, recall, relive and revive! I savored the moment by turning on a song from my iPhone and singing. Ahhh! How awesome and forgiving the acoustics still are in the auditorium! His gift to me was time, the one gift you can't get back, exchange or reproduce. His gift to me was music. Outside of people there is little I love more. My gift to Him was a song of praise and a very grateful heart for this unexpected and totally welcomed moment that He graciously prepared ahead of time just for me. Accident? No way! He is the ultimate Lover of Our Souls...and the extreme romantic! He wins this heart of mine that He created every single day!
"He hideth my soul in the cleft of the rock"....or the the aisle of an abandoned auditorium---whatever you need at that moment!
P.S. I love the story behind Fannie Crosby's song "He Hideth My Soul"!
