Friday, 28 April 2006

How deep the Father's love for us

In an age where divorce rates run high, where children grow up in broken homes, where the term "deadbeat dad" is commonly heard, it's easy to look at fathers in a negative light.

Today, for me, I saw the exact opposite.

I had what I called a "crisis" today. The day started out uneventfully with a trip to Harbor Lights Middle School where I was observing the choir teacher at work with his 7th graders. No sweat, until the unthinkable happens-my glasses broke.

"So what, Tyler? You can make it until you get home, right?" Wrong. I had an exam, performance-based, and it depended on my ability to read music at the piano. If I can't play, I fail. That's bad.

I had no clue what to do. With the nose bridge snapped in two in just the right place where it won't fasten together with tape, I was in a real pickle. I attempted to haggle with my teacher and I hit a dead end. Gee, thanks. What to do? Who do I come running to? Yup, the parents. In a panic, I call them to see if they can help somehow. "I have an exam tonight and I can't see! Can you help me?!"

I learned two big lessons today about God's promise to stay with us and guide us through the tough times. One was about miracles: my father went to the eye doctor's office to see if the opticians could help. To my surprise and relief, they had a pair of lenses already ground to my prescription. With a little bit of cutting, they were fitted to new frames that fit my face PERFECTLY.

Lesson no. 2 was of our Father's love for us. I saw it symbolized in my own father. He dropped his plans he had for the day, retrieved a pair of glasses which cost a decent amount of money, and then drove from Ludington to Holland with them just so that I could carry on with life. No sending my brother in his stead this time; He came himself. I know MY dad loves me. If that isn't love, I guess I don't know what is.

It's so amazing the parallels I'm seeing. Isn't that really what God did for us? He sent Jesus, a part of Himself, really, left Heaven for Earth, took our sins on Himself, died the cruelest death in the known world after being beaten, and then conquered death three days later, all for us and without second thoughts. God didn't send someone else-this was Jesus, who is God the Son. All for us, undeserving wretches who let Him down when He has NEVER let us down. Not once.

Oh, and the exam? Well, it wasn't perfect, it wasn't stellar, and I'll probably try and forget it, but it went well. I was able to read my music and Chelsea and I bulldozed our way through it without stopping. I really didn't care once it was over. It's too surreal to be done with Keyboard Skills. How to celebrate? I went to the Kletz and hung out with Eric & Ben, who apparently had spied on me as soon as I arrived foraging for my dinner. As I sit here now, I'm blogging late at night after writing an aleatory fugue, laughing with Steven about random stuff and discovering we have MORE classes together next year. I swear that guy has influenced my experience in music classes more than anyone else. Oh yeah, and I spent some time hanging at the WTHS station and taking pictures. I could have practiced, yeah, but I ALWAYS have to. Oh well...

I've been blessed this week. I have a Heavenly Father who has guided me through one of the most taxing weeks at Hope College that I can remember and sent some people along the way to help make it a little easier-the Bible Studs, my family, and some good friends here at Hope.