Last weekend, Lee and I attended the “Classic West” concert.
This was a 2 day event in Dodger’s Stadium featuring, The Doobie Brothers, Steely Dan, The Eagles, Earth, Wind & Fire, Journey, and Fleetwood Mac. All of these bands have been entertaining since he early 70’s. In case, your math is a bit rusty, that is almost 50 years! As I watched and listened to a group of people that have been together off and on for almost 50 years, I sat in wonder as to Why? How? I am not a musical person in a variety of ways, I don’t play an instrument, although I did purchase a keyboard a few years ago that continues to collect dust until I can find room in my life to learn to play. And, I will, someday, to get it off my bucket list! I enjoy talented musicians and vocalists, but I am not “Into” music. I don’t know the latest songs or artists, I listen to a variety of music while I am in the car, but I don’t have to have music playing all of the time. I can sing to all of the songs from my high school years, can sing to the worship songs I know, but I don’t follow musicians on twitter and don’t know what is going on in their personal lives. It’s just doesn’t make the cut for me.
Having said all of that, I found myself in awe, childlike wonderment, watching and listening to musicians that had followed their talent and presumably passion for almost 50 years. Why did they persevere? Yes, some of them quit for a time, but what made them come back? The entertainment industry is certainly not an easy gig, the schedule is grueling, and the fans can be fickle.
Can we take away a lesson from aging musicians about perseverance?
In my Bible, above the passage where Hebrews 10:19 begins, the title is “A Call to Persevere”. I don’t believe that God is calling us to persevere as musicians, thank goodness! However, we are all called to persevere through faithful living and obedience. This passage of Hebrews is rich with instruction from 10:19 on. The verses that spoke to me were 10:35 & 36:
35 So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded. 36 You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised[1]
This life is a journey, a fabulous and amazing journey. I find myself thinking about the activities, the adventures that I simply didn’t follow through on. What have I missed because I didn’t persevere?
This scripture is a reminder that we have been called to follow Christ. To be obedient to doing the will of God, and when we have, there is a promise waiting for us. It is never too late to follow the dreams and passions that God has given you.
Our lesson from aging musicians is simply to persevere, following Christ is a lifelong pursuit. An adventure that will take us through the good and the not so good, exciting and mundane, easy and challenging, but when it is over, God will fulfill his promise of everlasting life!
[1] The New International Version. (2011). (Heb 10:35–36). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan.
