The Piano Lesson - Finding Middle C

The Piano Lesson - Finding Middle C

I WAS ON MY KNEES, head to the floor, furiously screaming: “Where are you? Don’t you care? Why have you totally abandoned me?”

He was nowhere in sight. Day after day, my Savior had failed to show up in my crisis—and now the situation had reached an all-time climax. I was heartbroken, and I was furious. He was missing in action, and I was completely disoriented. Joy? I had no concept of it.

To find my way back, I had to rely on two principles I learned during my first year of piano.

After Aunt ’Cil burst my bubble by informing me that there would be no Carnegie Hall in my near future, we got down to business. The very first thing she taught me was the principle of middle C: here is where it is, and this is where you find it on every piano. If you ever get lost looking at all the black and whites, head home to middle C.

I learned another critical lesson later that first year. Because I was very small, I found it difficult to reach the lower and upper octaves (the next sets of eight to sixteen keys on the keyboard). To get there, I had to “scoot” up and down the piano bench. However petite I was, Aunt ’Cil informed me, there was no excuse for such poor performance behavior. Scooting on one’s behind was not allowed! No, if I wanted to be an accomplished performer, I was told I must learn to stretch.

There are some interesting parallels between finding middle C, scooting around, and losing sight of God. First, just like middle C, God is always in the same place. Regardless of what piano we’re playing, regardless of whether our life is on the upswing or spinning out of control, he’s there and willing to be our center when we get lost. On every piano, and for every person—regardless of age or origin, history or future—middle C and God never move around; when we get disoriented, we can always head home.

If you look for me wholeheartedly, you will find me. (Jeremiah 29:13)

Are you looking?