Today’s service is brought to you by George Frideric Handel. I hope you like his music, I certainly do! When I was taking music history in my undergrad days, I remember being so profoundly affected by the story of Handel’s childhood. The legend goes that his father tried to influence him to study law, not music. Music was considered impractical. When Handel was very young, he smuggled a clavichord (a small, portable, stringed, keyboard instrument) into his attic to teach himself how to play.

When he was only eight years old, he surprised his friends and family when he climbed onto the organ bench and began to play the postlude, following the Sunday service. Apparently, everyone was shocked, including his father who was completely unaware that his son was so talented. Even so, it wasn’t enough to convince Handel’s father to allow him to go into music as a profession. Handel did eventually enroll in law school, but the draw of music kept pulling him away, until he finally decided to make a career out of it. And boy, I’m glad that he did. What a treasure trove of wonderful music he left behind!

Ryan Hebert is no George Frideric Handel, but our stories resonate in similar ways. When I was around 12, we attended a small Methodist Church in Thibodaux, Louisiana, that had a small, and rather modest pipe organ. My mom was one of the volunteer pianists for our 8:30 service. On the Sundays that she played, I would sit with her on the bench and turn pages or just listen. One day, while sitting at the piano during the service, I asked my mother if I could play the postlude – but on the pipe organ. I had never touched the organ before in my life, although I had been taking piano lessons. She must have sensed the enthusiasm in my voice, and during the sermon, we quietly walked over to the organ console and looked around. All of those buttons, keyboards and lights – yikes! It was like being in a 747 cockpit. I had no idea even where the “on” switch was. But once I found it, I mashed a few buttons and “voila” – we had liftoff.  To my twelve-year-old ears, it was the most amazing and inspired sound I had ever heard; however, I would later learn that it was not exactly amazing and inspiring, but closer to cacophonous and disastrous!

Unlike the reaction that Handel got to his genius at the organ, the reaction from my parents and parishioners that Sunday morning was probably not quite as encouraging. After the service, I do recall my father kindly telling my mom that the organ postlude sounded, ahem – “horrible.” I wasn’t offended by overhearing that comment, however. That only made me more curious about how to make the organ sound more “glorious.” I knew it could, as I always admired our 11a.m. organist, Bennett Britt, who made that little pipe organ soar in the church!

Just like George Frideric, I was drawn in by music. It called to me in ways nothing ever did, and I suppose nothing ever will, except for writing. I’ve thoroughly enjoyed writing, especially these Music Notes, and I hope to continue to develop my skill in that area too.

Children need to be nurtured. When they show interest in something, particularly artistic and creative endeavors, give them opportunities to explore those inclinations. Unlike Handel’s father, my father was very supportive of my passion to learn music, even if my first performance on the organ sounded like a cat on a leash! My parents sacrificed, so that I could study music, and study music at the best schools, and with the best teachers. No expense was spared for my curiosity and passion about music, and for that I am forever grateful. No matter how old you are, you too have things that draw you in. Don’t deny yourself the opportunity to explore ways of being creative. I’m one of the lucky ones who made a career out of what I loved, what I was drawn to, and what brought me immense joy. Gravitate towards your joy – it was what God intended for you in your life on this earth. Don’t deny yourself a chance to explore! Soli deo Gloria!