Peace. Serenity. That’s what I’m feeling tonight as I write this, while listening to a 2-CD set of classical guitar tunes on my stereo. My favorite tune on the first CD is Pachelbel’s Canon in D. I don’t know why, but this song always thrills me. Maybe it’s because this song is played at Christmastime; maybe I associate it with the joy of the holidays. I get a similar thrill when I hear Sagreras’s Etude 84. Faure’s Pavanne makes me feel calm and peaceful. Ave Maria, whether written by Gounod or Schubert, sounds so worshipful and makes me feel close to God.
I’m thankful for the sense of hearing. I’m thankful for music, which has been a joy to me my whole life. I used to take guitar lessons, both folk music and classical music. I enjoyed the latter more than the former. I haven’t played in a very long time. Now my fingers are stiff and sore with arthritis, but I’m beginning to think they might feel better if I started playing again. Why should I let arthritis keep me from doing what I like to do? Playing music, I think, would be physically and emotionally therapeutic. I’m no longer sure where to place my fingers on the strings to make the right notes, but it shouldn’t be too difficult to refresh my memory, with the help of the books I used for my lessons and all the videos on YouTube these days. I’m thankful for the desire to play the music that brings me joy, and to use a talent God gave me to glorify Him.
Now I just have to coax the fingernails on my right hand to grow so I can pluck the strings, while keeping the fingernails on my left hand short so I can press the strings down on the frets with just enough pressure that they won’t buzz. I’ll keep you posted.
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