Naomi's Notes - 09/16/07
Pat Bryan, one of our Sanctuary Choir altos, recently returned from her vacation out west. She and a group of about twenty-four had gathered in Montana to embark on a two-week bus tour of America's National Parks.
Pat told the choir last Sunday about one delightful member of the tour group: "Harold," a tall, 90 year-old man. For much of the tour Harold was seen carrying around a small, black case. Pat thought it might be a camera case, but it seemed a bit large and sturdy.
After touring Yellowstone, Grand Canyon and several other parks, the tour bus broke down at a scenic overlook near Zion National Park, Utah. As the stranded group waited for a replacement bus, they rested and enjoyed the sunshine and beautiful view.
After a while, Harold opened the case he'd been carrying and pulled out his trumpet. (Pat learned later that others had heard him playing his trumpet every night in his motel room.) Finding a spot near the edge of the rest stop, he began to play familiar tunes from memory: "America, the Beautiful," "Down in the Valley,"... Other tourists were nearby, and a crowd soon began to gather around Harold. Some took pictures, fascinated by this elderly, gray-haired man and his trumpet tunes that echoed throughout the canyon.
Among the tourists was a South Korean family on a three-month vacation, touring America. The father (whom Pat later learned was a Presbyterian minister/music director) approached Harold, asking if he knew how to play "How Great Thou Art." Harold obliged, and as he played his trumpet the Korean man began to sing along, much to the enjoyment of the crowd.
Afterwards, Pat engaged Harold in conversation and asked if he had ever played in a band. Harold replied, "No, I've always just played for my own enjoyment." Clearly, Harold's musical gifts were delightful to others as well.
What a wonderful story! As Pat related it, I thought that if Harold began taking trumpet lessons as a child, he has been enjoying his music for over 80 years. And knowing the breathing and musculature involved, his playing the instrument daily has undoubtedly contributed to his good health. He truly has received God's life-long gift of music.
But Harold also uses his musical gift to bless others. Undoubtedly, every tourist at the scenic overlook that day went away with an indelible impression of a Korean man and an elderly American man and his trumpet, making God's music together on a beautiful hillside. Praise be to God.
"The whole assembly worshiped, the singers sang, and the trumpeters sounded..."
II Chronicles 29: 28
See you in worship this Sunday –
Naomi