Music, again

I got a new calling on Sunday. Actually, they called and asked me Friday night and then I was sustained on Sunday. I'm the Primary pianist. I know you are all shocked that I was asked to do this; it came completely out of nowhere! I've only had music callings for the last 5 1/2 years, not like I could do anything else you know! Forgive me if I sound a little caustic. I'm sure Adam would be feeling this too if he was called into the Elder's Quorum Presidency for 5 1/2 years straight (in three different wards, too). I told my friend Malissa that I am content with serving wherever the Lord called me and that if that meant music callings until the day I died then I was OK with that. But I guess the reality is that I'm feeling a little taken for granted. I do have capacities other than music and I would like to serve and expand my abilities in other ways. And just because other people have dropped the ball on developing their talents and abilities does that mean I have to pick up the slack for the next 50 years. ???

When I was set apart the bishop made some comment about wishing he was musically talented. I kind of got on his case, and the rest of the bishopric too, and said that I hadn't met someone yet who didn't have the capacity to be musically gifted if they chose to apply themselves. The Lord has given us all the ability to do many things and if we, through our agency, choose not to develop those abilities into talents than we miss out on the blessings and also reap the consequences for our weak stewardship.

Sorry to get on my soapbox but I actually gave a talk about this in Sacrament meeting about four months ago. It is a correct principle. I feel very blessed to have had a mother and father who both loved music and played the piano, imbuing me with a love for the instrument. And I'm grateful that my mom continued to sign me up for teacher after teacher as I pushed my way through more and more difficult pieces until I have reached the point where I can serve in the church and not have it be a struggle for me. But I resent church members, and leaders especially, who appear to take it for granted that some people have "got it" (musical ability), and that if they just pray hard enough those people will appear in their ward and the problem is solved. What I have "got" is 25 years of blood (paper cuts), sweat, and tears (fighting about practicing) under my belt until I'm able to perform music with such apparent ease that a bishop has no qualms about calling me to three music callings at a time. Whatever happened to asking people to rise to the call and magnify their talents through the application of prayer, fasting, and hard work? I told the counselor who called me that I had no problem accepting the primary calling as long as they understood that I couldn't play the organ in Sacrament meeting too. I'm still a nursing mother and I need to feed Brayden during the block (11-2 pm). When I went to get set apart, the ward organist was standing outside the bishop's office and made some allusions to the fact that I would be playing the organ for him when he was not available. Adam was quick to remind him that it couldn't happen until my baby was weaned. Thank you Adam! But that didn't stop the bishopric from bringing up my service as a choir director and reminding me of the fact that they don't have a ward choir because they lacked one. I told them that when they found a choir director I would be happy to join the choir!

Now that I've vented I need to go repent of my pride and resentful feelings. But I won't be answering my phone until next year!