No distracting theatrics. No flamboyant panache. Just simply effortless perfection. This is how I experienced Peter Rosel’s performance of Felix Mendelssohn’s Concerto No. 1 for Piano and Orchestra in g minor, Op. 25 (1830). This sedate, gray haired man sat on the piano bench and played, flawlessly, with seemingly effortless grace. There was not a hint of exertion or stress in the performance. And yet every note, every phrase, the whole thing was played with stunning exactitude, the music exuding perfection and passion.
Of course, behind this performance are countless hours of practicing, study, and work. But the performance itself seemed effortless. In watching this event, it was as if someone said, “Let’s take a walk around the block.” And you did. Nothing to it. Rosel’s rendition of the concerto seemed like that. It wasn’t smug or artificially restrained. He was prepared. And he did what he was there to do. No fanfare or falderal.
When it comes to living with faith, to serving God, to living in the commonwealth of God, I imagine Jesus performing like Rosel. I imagine Jesus just going about doing his business. Preaching. Teaching. Healing. Forgiving. Loving. Serving. Feeding. And I imagine him doing all of this with seemingly effortless perfection. Not seeking to draw any undo attention to himself. Letting his message and his ministry speak for God. No flamboyance. No theatrics. No distracting fanfare. Simply steady, effortless, grace.
As we noted, behind Rosel’s performance were countless hours of preparation and practice. Again and again we are told that Jesus went off to pray; he went up the mountain to pray, he went to the Garden of Gethsemane to pray, he went across the lake to pray. We don’t have a record of Jesus’ logged prayer time, but I suspect that it was considerable given the numerous mentions there are in the New Testament. It was this prayer time that was his preparation for his ministry. Through the discipline of prayer, Jesus stayed connected and grounded to his purpose and divine power. Prayer enabled him to be in complete synchronicity with the divine will for his life and for the world. It was prayer that kept him solid and centered amidst the roiling currents of his day.
In our society where such a high value is placed on productivity and efficiency, prayer looks like a waste of time. Nothing is really “accomplished.” We have nothing to “show” for it. We don’t necessarily get a direct, measurable, quantifiable result. Then why bother, right?
We, too, need prayer to keep us grounded and to foster that seemingly effortless, centered living. We, too, need prayer to keep us connected to the divine and to help us stay the course on God’s will for our lives and for the world. Prayer is the practice that will nurture us so that we can live out our values and commitments with strength and joy.
This Lenten season is a moment to put prayer time at the top of your “to do” list. And as the weeks go by, notice if you feel like there is a more smooth flow to the living of your days.
I know I could practice the piano relentlessly and I would never be able to play with the effortless perfection of Rosel. And I can pray and pray and pray, and I probably won’t approach the level of effortless perfection with which Jesus lived. But I can continually grow closer to living as my truest self grounded in divine love. I think that is why we are here. To make that journey.
Prayer: We are grateful for the arts and for incredible performances that delight and inspire us. We are grateful for Jesus and all that he teaches us about living lives that bring delight and joy to God and to others. May we invest ourselves in the discipline of prayer so that we may be grounded in love and free of the many machinations which continuously threaten to divert us from the life which truly satisfies. Amen.
Lakewood United Church of Christ 