Words matter

If I needed further convincing about the power of words, the amazing sequence of events that unfolded for me recently would certainly have done that. One Saturday, I received an email via my website from a lady, inviting me to come and speak to her writers’ group in a country town some distance from Sydney. Realising this would involve many hours of preparation, travel and workshop presentation, my first instinct was to decline—but I was curious. How had this person heard of me? Why did she seem determined to have me come and speak?

I emailed her back and, later that day, we spoke at some length on the phone. During that conversation, I discovered she had seen a copy of my second novel, All the Days of My Life, in a Christian bookshop in their town, liked the image of a piano on the cover and bought the book. Then she went home—and devoured it in one day. So much of what I had written in that book resonated with her, she told me, given she had been a music teacher all her life and that the previous year had been particularly difficult for her, with the passing of her husband and undergoing several operations herself.

I listened with mouth agape and marvelled at how God had placed this novel of mine before her just at the right time. You see, that book was initially written back in 2005 and published in 2008. These days, copies of it are hard to find anywhere, let alone in a smallish town in country New South Wales. I have moved on too in my writing since then—next year, my tenth book will be published. In fact, while I of course remembered the main thrust of my second novel, I was hard-pressed to recall the names of all the characters in it.

But that was not all. After some thought and prayer, I emailed her again, asking more about her writers’ group. She responded, telling me she was actually travelling to Sydney that week with friends to attend the opera and had some free time. Could we perhaps meet up somewhere?

Picture me then, walking towards the restaurant where we chose to meet in the Queen Victoria Building in the city, hoping my new friend would recognise me from my website photo. Suddenly, I caught sight of a small, grey-haired lady and knew I had found her. We hugged warmly, then proceeded to share a delicious lunch together as we talked and talked—for three hours!

So many heart-to-heart confidences shared. So much encouragement on both sides to continue to trust in God, to keep reaching out to others, to keep writing. As we talked, I realised all over again how much words matter. That day, our words were not empty or careless, like those Jesus warned the Pharisees about (Matthew 12:36-37). Instead, our conversation was amazingly rich and meaningful for us both.

What could I do in the end but agree to visit that writers’ group in the country? May God give me the right words to say when I do because words do indeed matter—even those written long ago.

Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them. Ephesians 4:29b

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When names matter

I wonder if you have ever spotted a misspelt word on the cover of a book. It can a little off-putting, can’t it? After all, if the publisher or author makes such mistakes on the cover, what will the inside of the book be like?

On the other hand, perhaps such things do not bother you but, because I am a writer and have also edited quite a few books others have written, they jar on me. Can you imagine then how I felt when I was recently emailed the proposed cover of my own latest non-fiction book, complete with not one but two spelling mistakes on it – including one in my own name? I understand how such mistakes could occur but am certainly thankful there is still time to rectify them before that cover appears anywhere for real.

This whole event caused me to think again about the importance of names and of getting them correct. Then around the same time, in reading through Matthew’s gospel, I happened to arrive at Matthew 16 where Jesus asks his disciples a key question:

When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, ‘Who do people say the Son of Man is?’

They replied, ‘Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.’

 ‘But what about you?’ he asked. ‘Who do you say I am?’

Simon Peter answered, ‘You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.’ Matthew 16:13–16

What an amazing declaration! Jesus’s response that follows shows that, while he knows his heavenly Father revealed these truths to Simon Peter, he is also delighted that Simon Peter sees him for who he truly is (17–20). Some Bible versions use the word ‘Christ’ instead of the Hebrew word ‘Messiah’, but both mean ‘the anointed one’, the one chosen to deliver God’s people – and both are still true of Jesus today. So I asked myself then how well I am doing at acknowledging Jesus as the Messiah, the Son of the living God, in my own life right now. Do I too honour him and truly lift up his name in all I do and say and write?

The following day, in an online devotional I also use, we were asked to reflect on this same passage and answer the same question Jesus asked Simon Peter. Then we were invited to think about how Jesus has revealed himself to us personally and how we have experienced his presence with us. I thought back then to the many times Jesus has shown me who he is through Scripture, through words and pictures spoken directly to me by his Spirit and also through others. But I also realised even as I did that Jesus, the Messiah, the Son of the living God, was delighted to be right there with me in that moment, loving me and encouraging me just as he did with Simon Peter.

What an amazing Saviour we have! It may not matter in the long run if my own name is spelt wrongly or dishonoured in some way, but it does indeed matter if Jesus’ name is dishonoured. May you and I lift his name high each day and give him all the glory he so rightly deserves.

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A generous gift indeed

One morning years ago as we stood outside the church we attended in South Australia at the time, my husband challenged a young man about training for ministry. I immediately felt embarrassed as, to me, this challenge put the young man on the spot. He mumbled some non-committal response then but, a few months later, came to talk with my husband about heading to Bible college.

After studying there, this young man went on to theological college to train for pastoral ministry. Thus began a lifelong journey of leading various congregations which ended only recently when he retired as pastor at that same church where my husband initially challenged him to attend college. My husband decided to fly there to be present for our friend’s last sermon in order to honour him—but, unbeknown to us, our friends had a little surprise for us too.

While away, my husband received an envelope from them which we opened together when he returned home. We discovered our friends had given us two tickets to attend a wonderful Christian event at the Opera House called ‘Sing! Australia’, featuring modern hymnwriters Keith and Kristin Getty. But that was not all. My husband then received a text from our friends telling us they had also booked us into a boutique hotel in The Rocks area for the night of the concert, close to the Opera House.

Our minds boggled. What an amazingly generous gift! The concert tickets themselves were expensive enough, let alone our lovely accommodation in the city as well.

At last, two weeks ago, the moment arrived when we were able to experience our wonderful gift. We felt so pampered in our excellent accommodation in The Rocks and enjoyed a stroll through the nearby shops and galleries before dinner that evening. Then we walked slowly around Circular Quay to the Opera House, stopping from time to time to take in the city lights, the Harbour Bridge and Luna Park beyond. Finally, we made our way inside to our superb dress circle seats in the Concert Hall, along with well over five thousand other people.

What a joy to listen to the world class performances by the Gettys and their talented group of musicians and singers—but also to sing along with many of the worship songs, using the song sheets we had been given. Can you imagine hearing all those people from many different denominations worshipping God together? One special highlight for us was joining in singing the old hymn ‘Holy, Holy, Holy’, unaccompanied, with great feeling. A hush descended afterwards—and I for one felt the strong presence of God all around.

As I gazed at the audience that evening, I was filled with gratitude, not only for our friends’ generosity in giving us our wonderful experience, but also for God’s amazing generosity to all of us present in reaching out and drawing us close through Jesus Christ via so many different faith journeys. None of us deserved it, just as we felt we did not deserve our friends’ generous gift. Yet God still chose to forgive, accept and bless each one of us out of a heart filled with grace and love—truly the most generous gift ever, don’t you agree?

Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift! 2 Corinthians 9:15

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Making music together

In the past few months, I have found another new vocation. I have become our nine-year-old granddaughter’s piano teacher. This is something I would not normally aspire to do but, given the cost of piano lessons and the difficulty of accessing them, we decided this was the best option. Picture me then, seated with Maxine on my right at the piano as we navigate our way through John Thompson’s Easiest Piano Course—an interesting journey indeed.

Now Maxine is very musical. Prior to this, she has played little pieces from memory and by ear, without being able to read music. But now we have well and truly embarked on the adventure of knowing what all those different notes are called and where and how to play them on the piano, not to mention the names and meanings of various other musical symbols. I never want to spoil her enjoyment of music by being too pedantic and exacting, so, each lesson, we try to have fun together as well. And a large part of our fun happens when I manage to play the accompaniment provided alongside most of the little pieces she learns while she perseveres with her part.

In the process of teaching Maxine, I have learnt a few things myself, not least of which is how to be more patient with a bubbly little girl who cannot seem to keep still beside me and whose attention tends to wander at times, even though she is keen to learn. But then, often when I am about to give up and decide we have had enough for one lesson, she shows me she has indeed understood all the new concepts I have taught her and can play all those notes correctly.

I have learnt to be patient too when Maxine wants to go back and play her favourite piece time and time again. This piece has a particularly mellow, tuneful accompaniment and I applaud her musical ear and taste, so I usually acquiesce. But I draw the line at joining her in playing ‘Chopsticks’, which she delights in choosing just to tease me!

As I have gained more patience in teaching Maxine, however, I believe I have learnt something more about God too. Surely at times, from God’s perspective, I must seem so unfocused in my Christian journey and so inattentive to what God is showing me as I give in to distractions and flip this way and that. Surely at times too, I must seem so content to stay put or revert to old, familiar patterns of behaviour rather than forge on and learn new rhythms and melodies in my life. Surely God has been so much more patient and understanding with me than I will ever be with Maxine. But, just like in our piano lessons, I know there are moments too when I glimpse more of God, when I do hear and understand those lessons God is teaching me and when God and I enjoy playing beautiful music together.

May there be many more priceless moments like these, not only in Maxine’s lessons, but in my life and yours as we journey with God.

Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. Matthew 11:29

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