Tuned to Middle "C"

“…then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose” Phil 2:2

I remember when I was a little kid (back in the 70’s) a commercial would play at Christmas time where people from all over the world came together to “teach the world to sing in perfect harmony”. There they are from Africa, Europe, Asia, and North & South America holding candles and harmoniously coming together in unity. What is this that has done what so many have failed to achieve. What is this that has broken down the walls of division and hatred and created such Joy? COKE! Yes its coke the “real thing”.

Harmony is a beautiful thing when it is achieved. I have a lot of experience trying to make it. In music, some of my most enjoyable moments have been in performances where I and others found our parts and perfectly harmonized to make something beautiful. I have also been in other moments where we made something altogether different and, well let’s just say, less than pleasant. If you think about it, your experience will bear this out-good harmony in music always produces a smile while bad harmony will almost always educe a frown (unless you politely fight it).

Life is like that as well. There are times when I find “my part” in relationship with others and harmonize to create something beautiful.

When we moved to Las Vegas, we loaded our piano on a moving truck and drove across the county. The 1000 miles of starts, stops, bumps, and climate change took a toll on the instrument. It had to be tuned. The first thing the man who tuned it needed to do was find “middle C”. From the orientation of middle C the rest of the keys find there correct sound. Then the piano can make beautiful music for all to enjoy.

We are told in the book of Philippians to “have this attitude in you which was also in Christ Jesus”. Apart from finding middle C (Christ) and tuning myself to Him, I will experience an unpleasant lack of harmony in life. In music there are major and minor chords that can be played. Apart from Christ people major on the minor. Pettiness, selfishness, pride, and rivalry win the day. Jesus teaches us how to major on the majors and in humility find ways of coming together to do beautiful things. We can bring Joy to the world as we “esteem others as better” and “look to the interests of others”. Our homes and places of employment can be transformed into harmonious environments of cooperation, effectiveness and great joy as we find “middle C” and adjust our hearts to him. Keeping Him at the center helps us to sing our part.

Jesus truly can teach us all to sing in perfect harmony. He is the real thing!

Do Justice...

Today is a great opportunity to make this world a better place. No matter where we go today as we walk with Jesus, we can humble ourselves under His mighty hand and He will grace us with strength to make a difference in other's lives.

Look around yourself. Do you see them? Do you see those who are hurting? Do you see the ugly, unpopular, under priveledged who suffer. Go to them, encourage them, pray for them. Be the life of Jesus and spead justice in an unjust world.

To love mercy is a major driving force in bringing heaven to earth. Mercy means to see people from two vantage points: 1. You must see through God's eyes. What do He see when He looks at a person? What does He feel? What insight does He have about the why and how of thier suffering? 2. You must see through the other person's eyes. How do they feel? What is it like to be them?

To walk humbly with Jesus is to realize that I am no better than anyone, and deserve no better (I don't want what I deserve) than those who may be suffering around me. To wash the feet of those in need is at the heart of what it means to walk humbly with God. Prideful people do not understand God's heart for the injustice in our world. In humility God lifts us up and shows us His perspective and empowers us with His grace to change things for good.

Isaiah 42:1-4 (NIV) 1 "Here is my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen one in whom I delight; I will put my Spirit on him and he will bring justice to the nations. 2 He will not shout or cry out, or raise his voice in the streets. 3 A bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out. In faithfulness he will bring forth justice; 4 he will not falter or be discouraged till he establishes justice on earth. In his law the islands will put their hope."