A Minor Chord...

In music theory, a minor chord is a chord having a root, a minor third and a perfect fifth. When a chord has these three notes alone, it is called a minor triad. In learning to play the acoustic guitar, I have come to love the minor chords. Over the past 5-6 weeks, God has so blessed me with learning this instrument and I pray my humble attempt to learn can, in some way, bring Him honor and glory. The callouses on my first three fingers have been quietly developing, which allows me to play longer! I so enjoy the learning process as well as the discovery of new things I never knew existed within me.

This love of the minor chords has me transposing what few songs I can play into different keys, just to get some of those minor notes. Three personal favorites thus far are Am, Dm and Em (A, D and E minor) with Em being the easiest to play. In learning some Christmas songs, I have found the tune, "O Holy Night" has A and E minor (along with B minor) when it is played in the key of G. I struggle about with my finger placement for that dreaded B minor. Fortunately, I learned a 3 finger version and playing the 1st four strings works, its just not as strong in sound as the traditional 4 finger version. I'm still learning but getting my fingers to stretch that way has proved challenging to say the least.

I don't know exactly what it is about these minor triads that has me so enthralled, perhaps it is just a different sound which I find quite soothing. Or maybe the tone itself is rather underpowering than overpowering. Is underpowering a real word? The major chords are great and all - strong, vibrant and full of sound; sometimes loud too. But I personally identify with the minor chords, one's that are a little more laid back, less showy but clearly effective. I looked up the word "showy" in Webster's Dictionary, which was pretty awesome reading. Perhaps the word I was looking for describing the major chords was pretentious, which (according to Webster's) implies "an appearance of importance not justified by the thing's value or the person's standing". Oh, how I do NOT want to be pretentious (or showy, ostentatious, etc.). OK, so I'm weird in identifying with the minor chords more so than the major ones - go talk to God about that, He created me! :)

As I was pondering the majors and minors, I couldn't help but see how we each are like a note on The Master's Instrument. He is the one who gently reproduces Himself in us, His sound is the footprint in our lives. When we walk with Him, in His song, it is a joyous melody to His ears. But when we venture off on our own, in our own ability, desire and effort, we find ourselves quite out of tune with the Father. Sometimes everyone else around us 'hears' it before we do. When a guitar gets out of tune, you have to turn the keys on the neck to bring it back into harmony with the rest of the instrument. Any single string on a guitar lies across the body and neck of the instrument, parallel with the other strings. Some strings are thicker than others but they are all level with one another and they are all traveling in the same direction. Tuning a string requires it to be stretched - sounds like the pains of maturity in our walk with the Lord. Once in tune, the song begins again...

Every aspect of my love walk with Jesus teaches me something. From the adventures in shepherding to learning this guitar thing, it all points to Him. I am in awe of just how totally ALL things do work together for those that love the Lord. This scripture comes to my mind frequently these days:

Romans 8:27-29 (Contemporary English Version)
All of our thoughts are known to God. He can understand what is in the mind of the Spirit, as the Spirit prays for God's people. We know that God is always at work for the good of everyone who loves Him. They are the ones God has chosen for His purpose, and He has always known who His chosen ones would be. He had decided to let them become like His own Son, so that His Son would be the first of many children.

Thank you, Lord, for your patience with me. In all of my ups and downs, with my being in tune with you and especially for those times when I am not. Thank you for choosing me as your own and for waiting for patiently for me when I run from Your purpose and plan. Keep me, Lord, close to Your heart and replace my own heart with Yours. You alone are worthy of Praise, of Honor and Glory!

JESUS, I LOVE YOU SO MUCH!!!