Wisdom from the Harp
“For the elements changed places with one another,
as on a harp, the notes vary the nature of the rhythm,
while each note remains the same.”—Wisdom 19:18.
A friend reminded me of this scripture verse in morning prayer recently. I read the first part of the Wisdom reading that morning, but missed this last part. I hope I won’t miss it next time, for this ancient verse describes music well, especially the harp. I began a journey with this classical instrument over thirty years ago, when my daughter begged to get a harp for a year.
The strings are the piano’s white keys, so it is easy if you understand the piano. Next, you lean the harp against your body, so you can hear the vibrations and feel the music within you.
The harp has taught me so many lessons about life, other than the discipline of trying to master a technique for following and plucking strings.
When one string breaks, it is challenging to continue playing. Part of playing is knowing the relationships of each string to the other. Now there is a gap, large or small, which changes the entire road map. I must take the time to replace the string as soon as possible.
Then, it takes days or weeks for that new string to stretch and be in tune. Then, finally, it must be “mentored,” so to speak.
Almost every atmospheric condition changes the harp strings. Constant tuning is mandatory. My husband loves the old joke about harpists. “We spend half our time tuning and the other half playing out of tune!”
On this musical journey, the harp has become an icon for living and working in community.
Its constant need for tuning reminds me how much I must try to stay current, learning, and staying in relationship with what is happening in the world around me.
If I don’t, I become “out of tune,” either too sharp or too flat.
I would love to hear from others about life lessons they have learned from a musical instrument.
Joanna https://www.joannaseibert.com/
If you live in the Memphis area, I will be at All Saints Episcopal Church from 10 to 2 on this Saturday, March 11, giving a Women’s Lenten Retreat and preaching there on Sunday, March 12 at 10. The retreat is sponsored by their Daughters of the King.