News & Notes: May 11, 2010

May 11, 2010

Dear Parents,

God’s peace!

There are days when I don’t think I can do anything right. I know I am not alone in this, for I have conducted many an informal assessment that confirmed that my feeling is not unique! Not too long ago I had one of these days. I began to wonder what caused this feeling of being unable to do something right. As I began to ponder this experience, I found myself reflecting on a story I heard not too long ago. It was the story of the “one-note wonder”…and it goes something like this:

There once lived a musician who was known as the one-note wonder. She inspected her violin, took her seat in the orchestra, arranged her music and tuned up her instrument. As the concert proceeded the conductor cued one group of musicians after another until finally the crucial moment arrived. It was time for her one note to be played! The conductor signaled, she sounded her note— and the moment was over. Just like that! The orchestra played on and the one-note player sat quietly for the rest of the concert; not disappointed that she had played only one note, but with a sense of fulfillment that she’d played in tune…on time…and with great gusto! She remained grateful for having played at all…and she knew that her note helped to hold the entire masterpiece together.

I began to see why nothing was going right…my vision was skewed and my focus was off. Each morning I need to walk into the day confident that my life has some purpose. As the day reveals itself so often that purpose reveals itself as well. It may seem a bit simplistic, but my purpose is God’s purpose. I have “one note” to play and no one can play it the way I can…no one can play it the way you can. When I recognize that I do have something significant to offer the world, I must also realize that others have their unique “one note” gifts as well, and as Andy Rooney once said, “Being kind is better than being right.”

When I can truly see… I recognize that each of us has been given unique gifts and talents that complement others…they don’t compete with others. In the New Testament Ananias entered history by simply introducing Saul of Tarsus to Christ, then he promptly exited history. He was a one note player, but what a note! He not only changed Saul’s life…but through that life…the life of our church.

As we walk through life we impact the lives of others. Often we are unaware of just how this happens… but it happens… What we say…how we reach out…the way we share…our gift of listening…who knows how our “one note” will affect and change others? (and indeed our very selves)

Today is a better day… The day will no doubt hold mistakes and wrong decisions…but what I must be certain of is my intention… my focus. I want to be a good person… I want to be a committed Christian…so I must look to the note I’ve been given to play in this rhapsody of life and I must recognize the unique notes of others and revel in the incredible sound we can make when we play in harmony…each allowing the other to express his/her note in symphonic unity. There will be dissonance… and practice is needed to sound my note properly… but what we need most is the will to want to play in harmony… to blend in celebration of the incredible music we can make together!

May your week be filled with beautiful music!

In prayer,

Sr. Maureen