Bob's Piano Story

When I was young, I mowed the lawn for my folks. I had this habit of talking to myself (and to God) so loud, they could hear me over the mower. Years later, on January 15, 2004, I had an engaging conversation with myself. And while I kept it inaudible, this time God talked back to me. And I’m glad He did.

Judy and I had just returned from Texas to begin our second semester as missionaries in residence at the Washington Bible College. I was a line monitor at evening registration, but since most everyone had registered, only I and the professors were left in the gym. A few guys were playing basketball at the other end—I found myself wishing I could play with them.

And then a thought hit me like a ton of bricks. “Bob, aren’t you going to take piano?” I had talked to Judy briefly about it, but hadn’t given it any though since. I had taken piano lessons as a WBC student years earlier, but had abandoned it in Haiti. On La Tortue Island, with no running water, electricity, or even a telephone, I had no piano teacher, and no way to get a piano there.

But this time we were not returning to Haiti. We were going to Santiago, Dominican Republic where we are now. And I thought, “I should take piano again. If I take lessons now, and stick with them, where could I end up in 20 years?” But the next thought was, “No way, man, you are crazy, you’re too busy….” And I began to list excuses why I couldn’t take piano again.

But a thought inside me kept at me, “Bob, go for it! You’ve got an excellent chance to improve if you simply try. But you must take that first step. And don’t wait! It’s getting late!” I remember the time being about 8 PM. Registration was to close at 8:30 or 9, but some of the profs were already standing around as if to leave.

So I countered, “Ok, how many men do you know who are 46 years old, haven’t taken piano for more than 20 years, and then all of a sudden decide to take lessons again?”

There! “Gotcha”, I thought. I’ve made my decision. No piano.

WRONG! The very next thought was, “Bob, you are a young 46. Your health is excellent. You play basketball with kids half your age, and you are able to keep up with them. There’s no reason why you can’t take piano. Think of what you could become in the next 20 years if you go for it. But you must start NOW!”

I was beginning to sense that the pro-piano thoughts inside me weren’t really me. I was sensing that I was engaging in an argument with Someone else using my thoughts—and I had a growing realization that that Someone else was the Holy Spirit in me—and that my anti-piano thoughts were wrong. I knew that WBC had an excellent music dept despite being a small college, and I knew that this was an opportunity that I should not miss.

Then God brought to mind 1 Peter 1.2, “Who have been chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through the sanctifying work of the Spirit, for obedience to Jesus Christ.” The Greek word for “obedience” in that verse is hupakoe, meaning “to answer a knock at the door.” When that verse ran across my mind, I thought, “I have preached this sermon to many people in Haiti. God is knocking at my heart’s door and I’d better answer!” So I began to register.

During registration, the music department told me that even though I was a faculty member, the school had a rule that I would be required to pay for my lessons. “Okay”, I thought, “That’s my out—it will cost $400 and we really shouldn’t pay that much.” But the assistant registrar overheard our conversation, came to the music chair, and stated that due to another arrangement we had made with the school, the school would waive the music fee.

Remember your first day of school? I do. I remember being in the back of the bus, watching my parents following me in their car, wishing that I were home. I got that same feeling going for my first piano lesson (and this was 40 years later!) Walking to the music room, I remember my legs taking me to a place that the rest of my body didn’t want to go to!

Yet God provided. He gave me an excellent teacher, changed my attitude, motivated me to work hard, and I left WBC four months later determined to continue.

About a year later, as a birthday present, Judy asked our Dominican church’s pianist to give me lessons. The talented Adonis taught me how to play beautiful Spanish praise songs written by Jesus Adrian Romero. English praise songs that I had heard in years gone by, longing to play but couldn’t, God was now giving me the ability to play them. God filled my heart with joy learning these songs, a joy that I had lacked in Haiti. It’s as if God rewarded me for all those years spent in the desert, so to speak. I felt like that I was drinking from an overflowing fountain of joy,

Recently Adonis and his wife moved to Santo Domingo, leaving our church praise band without a pianist. And this time I (maybe?) thought, “Why don’t you play? It’s wide open.” I hadn’t played in public in years, but mustered the courage to volunteer.

I play with four guitarists and two drummers. Since Dominicans love their music LOUD, and I sit right next to the drummer, sometimes I can’t hear myself play, giving new meaning to “We walk by faith, and not by sight….” Yet I love playing, and I feel like I’m swimming in that fountain of joy now!

The first Sunday I played, a number of people came up and thanked me for playing. Judy said that the piano sounded fine, that it complements the group. But we both wondered if I’m being heard at all! Maybe it’s not all bad not being loud especially when I hit a wrong chord—to which I say out loud, “Sorry guys!” (in English no less. But then again, they don’t hear that either!) Judy has also remarked, “Bob, sometimes you play so slow, the people could actually fall asleep singing.” One Sunday she told me that she could see the music director motioning me to actually SLOW DOWN! (I did by the way—I can still see!)

In the booklet Real People, Real Faith, John Kasay, kicker for the Carolina Panthers encloses a quote from Charles DeBox, “The important thing is this…to be able at any moment to sacrifice what we are for what we could become….”

I’m grateful that He got my attention five years ago on that cold night at WBC.

May God grant that we become all that He wants us to be.