I had a wonderful evening tonight. I started by meeting some of my siblings for dinner. Then we headed over to the high school where my nephew was playing in his last high school concert as he is graduating. There were several different instrumental groups – percussion, jazz band, orchestra, chamber orchestra, quartet, concert band…  Several of the kids were in 2 or even 3 of the different groups and they were all amazing. No, I am not just saying that because my nephew is in it. It was unlike any high school bands I have ever seen. These kids were not simply playing the instruments – they felt the music and those watching could feel it too. One of the teachers is leaving and a couple of the kids gave him gifts and said a few words. One of them was a young lady who was missing some fingers on one of her hands. She talked about how this teacher had brought some instruments into her class in elementary school and said that everyone should play an instrument. She told him she wished she could be part of the program, but that she was unable to. He told her that she could play whatever instrument she wanted. She chose the cello. I noticed that she was holding it backwards from the rest of the musicians and wondered how difficult it was for her to learn to play it opposite from what is usually taught. But she was a very good player. Towards the end of the concert, the lead music director was surprised by being presented with a national award of excellence. It was a very emotional evening, especially for my nephew’s mom who has been very involved with the band all 4 years of her son’s high school career.

I Found God today in an appreciation for the impact music has on the lives of youth and in the love of the teachers for the kids, the kids for the teachers, and the kids for one another.