taking it as it comes

Just some thoughts on a sunny Sunday afternoon...

Bowings are funny things. We string players tend to get ourselves tied in knots about them, often obsessing in rehearsals about whether or not our bowings are coordinated, not just within a section, but between different sections. It's an appearance thing as well as a technical thing, and there is no denying that bowings are an essential part of playing a string instrument. A phrase may not seem to lay correctly on the instrument, but a change of bowing may suddenly make it the most natural thing in the world to play. Some pieces of music require a lot of time and effort to bow. Nothing seems to work out correctly, and a lot of markings are required to make it all flow naturally. Sometimes, though, the music is already written in such a way that hardly any markings are needed. Perhaps there is a logical pattern, or perhaps the combination of rhythm and slurs already suits the phrasing perfectly with little alteration necessary. Sometimes there is even a golden moment - a phrase, a section, a page - where nothing is required at all. In this instance, everything is bowed "as it comes," simply alternating bow direction with each new note or slur. This is a beautiful thing.

If there is one thing I have learned about life in my 27.75 years, it is that life can only be taken "as it comes." The wonderful moments beg to be enjoyed and cherished whenever they occur, because we cannot expect that the times will always be good. The sorrowful seasons must be lived out, because the only route toward the future is through the pain, not around it. And in all times we trust in God, whose plans for us are wonderful beyond comprehension, even though our earthly minds simply are not capable of seeing it.