If you've followed my blog, you'll remember that I was raised in a strict Southern Baptist home. At age eleven, I competed in a Bible Drill. Contestants had to memorize numerous Bible verses as well as the books of the Bible. We had to be able to locate a certain scripture as quickly as possible, while a judge used a stop watch. I worked hard, studying for this competition (mostly because my parents were constantly questioning me about practice). I could say the books of the Bible forwards and backwards. I eventually made my way all the way to the Texas State Championship. I was the youngest child at the competition. I was in the sixth grade.
At age eight. my parents also bought me a piano, and I began piano lessons. My teacher was our church pianist. I took lessons from her in her home every Thursday for nine years. Then she moved away. We found another teacher in town, and I only took lessons from her for three months, then she decided to retire! It was only during those three months of her teaching, that I realized I really knew nothing about piano. The teacher that I had for nine years simply didn't know how to teach. By this age, I realized I was only a beginner pianist. Therefore, I chose to quit. I felt I was too far behind to catch up.
The only reason my parents wanted me to take lessons is so I could someday play in church. My Grandma played piano in church, but she could never read music. She played "by ear". Every single day when I got home, after getting off of the school bus and walking down that dusty road to out house, I was required to immediately put my school books down, and go straight to the piano and practice for one hour! I couldn't get a snack or anything. Homework? It had to wait until I finished my piano practice. Gosh! That hour seemed so long. I had to learn how to play hymns. That's what my Daddy wanted. When I strayed to any kind of secular music, he'd holler, "That;s not a in the Hymnal!". Occasionally, I would practice on a couple of Ronnie's songs, only to hear a voice from the other room saying, "That's not in the hymnal!. I use to pretend that Ronnie's tour bus was driving down our dirt road. He'd come in, have a seat, and I would play a recital for him. Sometimes that's all that go me through that hour-long practice session.Can I still play piano today? Not the slightest. I've forgotten how to read music, and I'm too old to want to try again.
I've mentioned my Southern Baptist background. For years, the Baptist Doctrine was all I knew. As I became an adult, I began to develop my own religious beliefs. I am no longer affiliated with the Southern Baptist, or any other denomination. I believe that we are the body of Christ, and we can worship and praise Him anywhere...even at home. I, my husband, and all three of my children have accepted Christ as their personal Saviour, and have all been Baptised. Maybe someday we'll locate a church that shares more of what I believe, and I doubt it will be a Southern Baptist.
No comments:
Post a Comment