Hi! Well, I have just completed my first week at school. Now I have tons of options concerning what to do with my weekend. I could go to a jazz fest with my band group, go to a barbecue cookout with my floor, go to a baseball game in Wrigley field for free (blah!)….or…I could even do homework, do laundry, go shopping, go swimming, practice more violin (I’ve already done the 10 required hours this week), go to the bank, decorate my dorm room with my roommate, clean the room (which never seems to work because it’s always messy again the next day!), etc.  Thankfully, at least, no one here is bored!

(Band retreat photo. We are playing the “tummy ha ha game, only saying “bunny bunny instead of ha ha.”

 

I’d like to touch a little more on the violin practicing. How and why would I consider 10 hours every week of long, hard, dedicated practicing “fun” and “exciting”? Many Moody students have actually changed from being a Music major because of the hard work involved. It’s hard at first, but this is how I think of it:

  • Playing violin for a long time is not monotonous. The more you play it, the more you experience different aspects to it. (And, the more you play, the better you sound!)
  • Being in a small, enclosed practice room for 1 or 2 hours keeps you from any distractions. You are here to build a “relationship” with your violin, and nothing else!
  • Being focused and dedicated in one area such as violin helps you grow to be focused and dedicated in everything else.

Now, that sounds great, I’m sure. However, what I’ve been struggling with recently is this: I spend 2 hours every day building a “relationship” with my violin, but only 10-15 minutes building a relationship with my Lord who loves me and has died for me. Does that sound slightly lopsided to anyone? My violin doesn’t love me. It’s just a piece of wood with a purpose: to glorify God in the sound that I make with it.  Maybe this rings a bell with some of you. Maybe you play sports after school for 2 hours, or watch movies for 2 hours, or hang out with friends for two hours. There is so much you can do with “2 hours.” Hopefully, I’ll be able to schedule a time during the day for prayer and for being transformed by His holy Word. Sure, it’ll be hard, and maybe frustrating when things come up, but the same situation goes for practicing violin. What’s more valuable? Two hours of laughing with friends, or 2 hours of getting to know the most important, wonderful Being who always was, always is, and always will be?

It is so easy at a Christian college to get into the routine of thinking about God during classes and homework, but not at other times. As one of my professors put it this morning, “If we only spend our time here at Moody “preparing” and not actually getting involved with ministry and living our lives radiantly for the Lord, our faith becomes stagnant. We take in all these spiritual ‘calories’ and don’t exercize to stay spiritually ‘fit.’” I am so thankful for my Practical Christian Ministries (PCM) program. It will start next wednesday, and will entail being an after-school tutor for inner-city children grades K-6.  It will be challenging, especially for me because I have not been very exposed to inner-city life, but I am excited that it is where God has put me, and I pray that not only will the children be changed by our ministry, but that God will work in our own hearts and that we would come out of it more spiritually mature.

May the Lord bless you in whatever you are involved in! Please let me know how I can pray for you!

Soli Deo Gloria,

April Cervinka