September 15 - Not always what it seems

"Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning."
James 1:17 (KJV)

When, some years ago, I first met Russell, my impression was one of a young man who loved the sound of his own voice, hyper-active, and boy, could he talk! With Russell there was neither a suitable time or occasion. Whether I was on a break, eating lunch, or preparing to leave for home, Russell was on my heels. He would even 'escape' from the training group he was scheduled to attend, and crash the class I was teaching – even the loo wasn't sacresanct – when I came out, there he was, outside the door, to pick up exactly where he had left off with his favourite topic of the day. One time it was gerbils – their care requirements and breeding habits.

Russell was then 32 years of age. Born prematurely he had, for the first six weeks of life, been put into an incubator and received too high an intake of oxygen. The result? he was blind, had a severe mental impairment and attachment dependency. To all intents and purposes it seemed that he was untrainable and destined to return to a life-time of care in one institution or another.

There was much more to Russell however. He was convinced God had given him an
angel on his shoulder to look after him – a friend, who talked with him, comforted him when he was feeling low. At night, and in his dreams he had great conversations with Jesus....it was somewhat a consolation to know I wasn't the only one to have my ears bent about gerbils!

It might seem strange to hear, but Russell was a gifted young man. If there was a piano in the building, he would find it. He played by ear, and instantly went into a world of his own. He would ask us to hum two or three notes or name a tune, no matter how old or new – pop or classical, and Russell would play a perfect rendition. At times he would come up with a new composition – thanks, he said, to his angel.

Harleigh M Rosenberger wrote in “Sunshine” magazine about Alec Templeton, another blind pianist. The whole town turned out whenever Alec visited, just to hear him play the piano, and when he played, you could hear a pin drop – the audience were listening to a master.

Harleigh continues: “It is some years now since that night I heard Alec Templeton play. Yet one scene stands out in my memory. It happened when he asked people in the audience to name three notes. The notes could be any three notes picked at random. Then from these three notes this blind pianist wove a melody” – ( just as Russell had).

From those notes he played a stirring march. Then the mood changed to a lively folk tune, then turning them into a lilting waltz. He played them as Beethoven or Wagner might have. When he finished, the audience broke into rapturous applause.

Harleigh continues: “Life gives to each person certain nots to play. At times these notes may seem to be discordant”. Life handed to both Russell and Alec the notes of blindness and mental impairment. Yet, they were both able to rise above their handicaps and become fine musicians.

“It takes an artist to use the notes that are given and to play a melody of beauty with them. But it can be done. Not alone though, but by the grace and power of Almighty God – plus a great determination on your part”.

I have within me some known or unknown talent that I have never been aware of....I hold in my mind the image of myself succeeding....and make that image become fact.

Music is “Be Free in the Love of God” Click on the picture to listen.