Wednesday 9th April

Sorry I didnt get to post yesterday.  Life has got a bit mad here the past few days.  And Im not overflowing with profound words of wisdom at the moment.  So I thought I'd give you a day off from my inane ramblings  :-)

I've had my portable piano for quite a few years now and last week the foot pedal finally gave up the ghost. You wouldnt think that would make much difference - the piano itself still works perfectly.  But I find it almost impossible to play without a working pedal.  Because, as there is no wooden box to provide any sound reverberation like on a standard upright piano, the pedal is what provides the sustain on an electric piano.  Without the pedal each note is as dead as a doornail and it sounds horrible.  The notes need to be sustained to sound right.

What sustains you?  We all need things to sustain us, physically, emotionally, mentally and spiritually. Physically we need food.  As my son Josh has discovered this past few weeks when we cant eat we don't function properly.  And as many people are increasingly discovering if we don't eat the right things we function less than optimally. Emotionally we need people.  There have been several studies published recently which link loneliness to an increase in mental health problems and poor health outcomes.  Sadly loneliness is endemic and no longer restricted to elderly people sitting alone in pensioner flats ( although they still do make up a large proportion of the lonely). Single people, divorced people, unhappily married people.  Those who are shy, introverted, disabled, super privileged, socially inept or working in isolating jobs.  Mothers of very young children, carers, prisoners, the bereaved - many people can find themselves deeply lonely.  We all need to be loved and to be able to express love. Love sustains us.  Without it we dont sound right

Mentally we need stimulation, challenge, knowledge.  As young children if we are not spoken to and read to and filled up with information we dont develop to our full potential.  As we get older and the grey matter begins to decay we need to keep mentally alert and active - if we dont use it we lose it!

Spiritually what sustains us is God.   Its not praying,  its not reading the Bible, its not going to church and meeting with likeminded believers - although all of those things are necessary and good.  But none of those things in and of themselves are our lifeblood.  Our lifeblood is Jesus and He is our sustenance.  True, He uses His word and His promises to breathe life into us, He communicates with us through prayer and through fellow believers, but it is His Spirit living in us which gives us life and keeps us going.  And so its not up to us

So that's good isn't it ?  :-)  Because God has already decided He is not going to let you go.

I've ordered a new sustain pedal from ebay.  Hopefully it will arrive before I next need my keyboard.   As for the rest - well, I have food in the fridge ( though it could be healthier) , I have some fantastic friends ( although I dont keep in touch with them as much as I should) and I play Scrabble every night with some cutthroat opponents who keep me on my toes.  God has got hold of me and as long as I tune in and allow Him access He will spiritually sustain me.  And hopefully my notes will resonate and I will make a pleasing sound.

If not, earplugs are available from all good retailers  :-)