Playing the notes

By Kristi Grussendorf
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I think it was Miles Davis who said that Improvisation was “The freedom and space to hear things.”  Following Pastor Emily’s sermon this past Sunday, this got me thinking about the place of the Holy Spirit in our lives.  How often are we so consumed by our own voice, our own agenda, our own “to do” lists to not provide the space necessary to hear where God is leading us?  I also need to remind myself of the amount of hard work and practice that needs to happen before an artist can improvise effectively.  As I take on a new role at Prince of Peace as your council president, I thank you for your support & ask for your prayers. May the Spirit guide us as a council, that I am able to equip myself with the appropriate tools to adequately lead, that we not only listen but have the courage to then, “play the notes!” And most importantly, may we always remember why we’re here and whose we are.
 
Again, it looks like I’m writing about balance!  In my last council corner message, that was a pervasive theme.  In preparation for being receptive to the Spirit speaking through the other voices on this year’s council, I just received and read the Transition Team Report (thanks, Colin!) Thank you to all the people involved with writing, compiling and researching this important document.  I have read through our PoP by-laws again and have tried to familiarize myself with Robert’s Rules (the abbreviated version!).  I’ve also met with Pastor Emily several times and am looking forward to our council retreat where we will get to know each other better and have time to make some strategic Christ centered plans.  Again, I ask for prayers to help us find a date that works for us all in the next couple of months and for our work together on that day.
 
Miles Davis also said, “A painting is music you can see and music is a painting you can hear.”  Since I’m a visual artist, this brings it back around to familiar territory for me.  This time around, the painting I am sharing with you is one that has just returned from a really big show in NYC.  Most appropriately, it has found a new home with Sandra Weingart.  It’s called “The Tie That Binds” and it’s a cruiciform composition, one of the most stable visual structures.  I painted it from a reference photo taken in Amish country on a very rainy day (hard to paint watercolors in the rain!).  We had been warned many times that not everyone was okay with the tourist “gawkers” always taking photos but we were four artists and just couldn’t resist getting out to take photos of these beautiful cows.  They were heading somewhere but we were a disruption.  Many stopped to stare at us.  Then, came the formerly unseen farmer, whose work we had disrupted.  I felt such guilt and discomfort and all I could do was gasp, “beautiful cows!” with genuine admiration.  The young farmer without a trace of impatience or contempt just said, with a quick smile, “thank you.”  Such grace and understanding!