We have some wonderful friends in John and Rachael. She is a classic extrovert who rarely hesitates to share pretty much anything with us. He is a quiet guy with a quick wit. One Sunday following a meal we had the privilege of hearing about the early years of their marriage.
John is a professional musician. He plays the tuba. He plays the tuba well enough to get paid to play it. I know a dozen people who claim to be able to play the guitar, only one is good enough to get paid to do it. In contrast I know one person who plays tuba, and he is a pro.
When John and Rachael met, he was in his Senior year of college, she was a Freshman. He practiced his tuba six hours a day, every day. He told her before they got married that to love him, was to love his tuba.
After they married he would take his tuba when they went on vacation. They would all go to the park so he could practice. Evidently, tuba playing is not acceptable in most hotels.
She referred to the tuba as “his mistress” teasingly, but she admitted she was a bit jealous too. She would try to entice him to be late for practices and rehearsals to gain the upper hand over the giant brass “other woman”.
John was certainly not a bad guy, but rather, he was committed to his art in a way musicians are prone to be (and some of us should be). He carried his tuba two miles to and from class every day. He had a raw talent, commitment, and level of skill that propelled him into a life as a professional musician. He was able to achieve that mountaintop that the rest of us non-talented, Rock Band playing, karaoke singing, pretenders dream of.
She told us how one night, while they were lying in bed, he said, “Rachel, if something were to happen and I had to choose between you and the tuba, I would choose you.” She said it was sincere and loving, and one of the sweetest things he had ever said to her.
They have been married long enough to have four beautiful children. They share a beautiful house together on their small farm where they raise chickens, mules, pigs, and a cow. They are thoughtful Believers who always have an encouraging word on their lips and joy in their hearts. And I believe they share a level of commitment to one another that is enviable. He knows she is committed to him by putting up with his tuba playing. She knows he is committed to her even more that he is committed to his music, and that is saying something.
When John and Rachael met, he was in his Senior year of college, she was a Freshman. He practiced his tuba six hours a day, every day. He told her before they got married that to love him, was to love his tuba.
After they married he would take his tuba when they went on vacation. They would all go to the park so he could practice. Evidently, tuba playing is not acceptable in most hotels.
She referred to the tuba as “his mistress” teasingly, but she admitted she was a bit jealous too. She would try to entice him to be late for practices and rehearsals to gain the upper hand over the giant brass “other woman”.
John was certainly not a bad guy, but rather, he was committed to his art in a way musicians are prone to be (and some of us should be). He carried his tuba two miles to and from class every day. He had a raw talent, commitment, and level of skill that propelled him into a life as a professional musician. He was able to achieve that mountaintop that the rest of us non-talented, Rock Band playing, karaoke singing, pretenders dream of.
She told us how one night, while they were lying in bed, he said, “Rachel, if something were to happen and I had to choose between you and the tuba, I would choose you.” She said it was sincere and loving, and one of the sweetest things he had ever said to her.
They have been married long enough to have four beautiful children. They share a beautiful house together on their small farm where they raise chickens, mules, pigs, and a cow. They are thoughtful Believers who always have an encouraging word on their lips and joy in their hearts. And I believe they share a level of commitment to one another that is enviable. He knows she is committed to him by putting up with his tuba playing. She knows he is committed to her even more that he is committed to his music, and that is saying something.
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