An Instrument in the Arms of God

I have loved music since as far back as I can remember.  My dad had (and still has) the largest record collection I’ve ever seen in person.  I grew up loving all types of music, but had a particular affinity for jazz.  Every summer, we went to the Saratoga Jazz Festival in NY – a tradition that my sons will benefit from starting this summer.  I used to wish I could play like the great musicians my dad exposed me to…especially master musicians like John Coltrane, Miles Davis, and Thelonious Monk.  I knew I wanted to play some type of instrument and, after some thought, landed on the clarinet and the piano (well, to be honest, I didn’t have a choice regarding piano :-)).  I played in elementary school, but quit as soon as I got to middle school because I didn’t think it was “cool” to be in band anymore.  I never really got great at it because I didn’t put the time into honing my craft.  I haven’t picked up an instrument since that time, but lately have been feeling the itch to learn to play something.

My first instrument craving came a few weeks ago when I was listening to one of my favorite artists, Roy Ayers.  I suddenly wanted to learn to play the Vibraphone.  I thought it would be a fun instrument to learn and that my sons would have fun playing it with me.  That was…until I saw how much they cost (the cheapest one I found was $1500).  So I kind of put that on the backburner since we just bought a house and have lots of other things to purchase before I can get to that.  Over the past week, the craving emerged again while listening to some light music during meditation.  I’ve been listening to Nawang Khechog during some of my meditations over the past couple weeks and I am absolutely mesmerized by the flute.  I thought about taking flute lessons and, ultimately, working on a flute meditation CD of my own.  While I believe I can do anything I put my mind to (my grandmother used to always tell me that and it definitely stuck with me), I heard the following message during my meditation time and it stopped me in my tracks.

You are an instrument in the arms of God

I had written this very statement down in my journal during my personal retreat back in January, but it just popped up in my mind again today.  It reminded me of something I read in Science of Mind last week about being a “transparency for God”.  There was an exercise in the workbook that had you close your eyes and imagine your body being completely transparent so that your organs, bones, etc., show through.  Then you were to bring your attention to God and invite the Spirit to flow through your transparency into the world.  It was a powerful exercise that significantly shifted my daily experiences and interactions.

Relax and let this flow of God pour through every inch of you into the world, as if you were a clear window, a conduit of the Divine.  And as this essence pours through your being, set your intention in love, knowing that this is [living in] Grace. ~Joel Goldsmith

While I still believe there may be something else I am meant to do with my music passion, for now I have my marching orders…learning to consistently play in tune in the Divine band.  To radiate the love, compassion, peace, joy, serenity, forgiveness, kindness, harmony, abundance, etc., that God is (and that I am because I was made in His image).  Whenever I play off key (judgement, resentment, bitterness, unforgiveness, etc.), I will just get back to practice (meditation, prayer, affirmation, etc.), tune up,  and play again!  Let’s make music together…

“They can shoot a soloist, but they cannot shoot a song…we need to start singing” ~Marianne Williamson

Keep shining!

~Kandace

About the Author: Kandace Jones

I used to live life shackled by fear, doubt, and worry. I put on a happy face while navigating my day-to-day duties, but I was emotionally drained, stressed, and unhappy. When I hit rock bottom, and was diagnosed with depression and anxiety, I was determined to live life differently. I knew there had to be another way. Out of that determination, and guidance from Spirit, the "Living in the Light" blog was born. It documents my spiritual journey out of the darkness and into the Light. After nine months of publicly sharing my journey, and consciously releasing my attachment to the ego, I experienced a powerful spiritual awakening. I went from living in fear, doubt, worry, and stress to complete inner peace. My greatest passion has become assisting others on their own journey to inner peace. My spiritual memoir, From Stress to Peace: An Intimate Journal on the Journey from Living in Darkness to Living in the Light, is available now on Amazon and BN.com. Click the tabs at the top of the page to learn more about the From Stress to Peace 21-Day Challenge, Living in the Light Retreats, 1:1 sessions, and the Living in the Light Community - all of which are designed to support your journey to inner peace. I appreciate you taking the time to visit the blog and look forward to supporting you in any way I can!