I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

~Philippians 3:14 ESV

Parents and grandparents packed the church sanctuary. Over a dozen students dressed in their Sunday best waited to hear their names. I was among them. The recital was at hand. 

I would have rather ridden my bike. Finally, I heard my name. I took my seat on the piano bench and played the song I had practiced many times. I would either see my instructor beam with pride or cringe. The thought that my family and half of the town’s population attended didn’t offer much comfort. I focused on what my instructor whispered to me as I placed the sheet music on the rack: “If you happen to hit a wrong note, keep playing through the song.”

Doing what my instructor said was much easier said than done. Some of my peers played their pieces perfectly. Others, including me, hit a few wrong notes and disrupted our rhythm. One of the students completely froze and couldn’t perform at all. I was relieved when the recital ended. I could enjoy refreshments and just be a kid again.

Everyone will hit a wrong note at some point–and not just on a musical instrument during a performance. Wrong notes show up in conversations with family, attitudes at the workplace, and wrong moves in our spiritual lives. The natural reaction is to stop and walk away. When we do, we announce that we failed. It’s easy to let mistakes defeat us and shut us down.

For I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.

~Jeremiah 31:34b

Failure isn’t our enemy; it is a tool that teaches us to move forward. Some try to muddle through their mistakes, while those around them struggle with them in shared angst. It doesn’t benefit us to draw attention to our flaws. The words from my piano instructor inspire me to push forward, do my best, and finish.

Martina McBride’s song, Anyway, comes to mind. The message in the lyrics conveys that although everything doesn’t always turn out as we want, we should keep doing what God has called us to do. When everyone else thinks we aren’t doing things well enough, keep pushing through to the end.

How did you overcome when you wanted to quit?

Heavenly Father, I ask Your forgiveness for the mistakes I’ve made. Thank You that You choose not to hold these against me. Help me to press toward to the goal. Thank You for Your loving kindness and for the encouragement I gain by reading Your Word. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Genre: Non-fiction

Copyright 2021: The Recital: Ben Cooper: All Rights Reserved