Wow! This organist played with two feet and two hands on three keyboards.
I was impressed as I watched and listened to musician Peter Joseph Holder play the pipe organ at All Saints Chapel in Sewanee, Tennessee. Having played for Queen Elizabeth II’s memorial service and King Charles III’s coronation, Holder was a master of his craft. From flourishes and overtures to songs fit for royalty, Holder’s music was filled with crescendo and decrescendo, peaceful and soothing sounds, and trumpeting reverberations worthy of the cathedral in which he played it.
As I focused on the sound more than the sight, the music’s ebb and flow reminded me of life’s ups and downs. At one point in my day, I am often excited to hear good news, such as the healthy birth of a friend’s baby or all As on my nephew’s report card. I am overjoyed to receive an unexpected letter from a high school friend.
But later that same day, I might hear a loud noise from my HVAC unit and need to call the repairman. Phone calls make me late for an appointment. A wreck on the interstate forces me to take an alternative route. I must prepare for the ebb and flow of life.
The third chapter of Ecclesiastes reminds us that life is full of delights and disappointments—a time for weeping and laughing.
The organist at All Saints Chapel spoke to me through his music. At times, I wanted to cry, and at times, I wanted to laugh. I experienced several goose-bump moments. However, his rendition of “Eventide” most impacted me. This tune was familiar to me as the hymn, “Abide with Me,” written by Henry Francis Lyte, a poet who asked God to stay with him through the joys and sorrows of his life.
What a great reminder that there is a time for all seasons.
Ask God to abide with you as you experience your ebbs and flows.
After teaching high school English for over thirty years, Joyce McCullough now spends her time writing children’s books. She also enjoys tutoring, teaching piano lessons, teaching Sunday school, and doing volunteer work. She has written for numerous faith-based publications including Alive, The Cumberland Presbyterian, The Missionary Messenger, and Focus on the Family’s Early Stages. She has received numerous awards and recognition both as a writer and as an educator. For more information, visit her website, The Literary Lyonesse, at joycemccullough.com.