We continue to enjoy the "joyful noise" (though surely never before heard quite like this--who knew a musical instrument could produce such sounds) emanating from our 5th grader's trombone at our house. To say we are novices when it comes to the trombone would be a vast understatement. We know NOTHING about trombones--although I have always admired their remarkable sliding ways and sounds! But has total ignorance and inability ever stopped us before? Never! In the words of King Henry V: "Once more unto the breach, dear friends, once more!"
And so Peter valiantly blows away producing... well... unique and joyful noises. Last night, however, we figured out we had a problem (mind you, after only one class in band at school and one night of "practice"). The trombone we rented from the music store was defective. Clearly. Plain as day, anyone could see that one arm of the trombone was bent. Bent! No wonder!
Moreover, despite our best and determined efforts, once the two pieces of the instrument were assembled, we could not pull it apart to put it back in the case! Geez--we had only had this trombone about a week. Peter got on one end and I got on the other and puuuuullllled and pulled... and the instrument remained stubbornly stuck together. Only the efforts of Dad saved the day in finally managing to wrench it apart.
We all agreed: the trombone was bent and clearly defective and must be returned to the store. I guess this is what you get when you rent them used. They sure don't make 'em like they used to.
So, this morning, I drove and drove and drove and drove to outer Mongolia where the music store is located. We're talking so far out there that I saw no Starbucks to keep me going on my long trek. But you know us intrepid moms--we will jump tall buildings or run through fire or walk on glass or drive vast and faraway distances to replace a defective musical instrument for her child.
When I finally arrived at the music store, I confidently strode in holding the defective trombone and quickly explained the problem--bent, unable to pull apart, need a new trombone. Easy as pie.
Until the nice older man patiently explained to this ignorant mama that all trombones are bent--the bent section makes it more comfortable to rest on your shoulder. Ahhh. Okay, that's actually a really great idea. I wonder who thought of that? Sigh. Thinking of slinking out of the store.
But wait there's more: there's a reason we couldn't wrench it apart. When pulling the two pieces apart, you are supposed to turn one side a quarter of a turn to release it and then, ta-da, it pulls apart effortlessly. Well, of course. No longer thinking of slinking out... I think I will run out of the store before they burst into loud guffaws.
Incredibly, this remarkably patient and understanding man and, by now, another woman he had called in to deal with the "defective" trombone, did not burst out laughing. They didn't even chuckle... maybe just a smile or two as they explained this all to the ignoramus mama. But I bet they screamed with laughter when I sheepishly walked out the door.
So, in case you're wondering, all trombones are bent... on purpose. I couldn't help but think of something I heard years ago. Martin Luther once wrote: "God can use a crooked stick to draw a straight line." Boy, aren't you glad? He can and will use our mess ups, our failures, our faults, our weaknesses that seem so hopelessly bent and crooked, and He can make something magnificently straight and beautiful with them.
What a God we serve! He takes our worst and transforms it into His best. I'm thinking right now of John 21 and the good old apostle Peter. How can you not love Peter?--impulsive, loving, loyal, so confident of His faith in Christ and yet denying the Savior he loved so dearly not once, but three times. Christ could have given up on Peter. After all, three strikes you're out. We would have written him off. What a loser, what a failure.
But not in the loving, grace-filled eyes of Peter's Redeemer and Savior. Three times in John 21 Jesus asks Peter, "Do you love Me?" And then three times Christ commands him to feed My sheep. One time for every denial. Three times Christ reaffirms His plan to use Peter mightily--three times for Peter's three failures.
God was not finished with Peter. O no, He had only just begun to use the rugged, rash fisherman in ways infinitely beyond anything Peter could have ever imagined. Think of how Peter's failures- transformed-into-faithfulness have blessed and encouraged countless Christians through the ages. Thank You Lord for using weak and frail and fault-prone individuals like Peter and Samson and Moses and David and Rahab and Isaac and on and on. If God could forgive and use them, then surely He will forgive and use us too!
He is the God of second and third and fourth chances--if we will but come to Him in repentance and dependance. It's really true: with God, failure is never final. Not at the foot of the cross. Not with a Savior who died to redeem His beloved children--His bent, crooked sticks.
He makes all things new and enables crooked sticks to draw straight lines. We may be bent, but if He is our Savior and Lord, then we are loved and forgiven and empowered to be used by our magnificent Redeemer.
The Apostle Peter would tell you: don't quit because of failure. Don't let a bent trombone or a broken relationship or a twisted failure or a crooked past prevent you from humbly coming to the Savior for forgiveness and restoration. He loves to use bent and crooked sticks, and He'll enable you to draw straight lines for your greater good and His greater glory. To our Savior, our Redeemer, our Restorer, be all the glory.
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