“I believe we’ve discussed this before,” my conductor said. “If you haven’t marked your score (with pencil of course), you should do it now,” he reminded us. “Then pay attention to those markings when you play the music! And practice, so you can watch me.” He was trying to be calm, but I could tell he was tired of reminding us. I play violin in a community orchestra and a concert is on the horizon.

I’m always sorry if I’m not prepared.

Yesterday’s rehearsal reminded me of what I often put off doing.  Practice. Keep my eyes on the director and know my music. Rehearsal is on Thursday and the morning of rehearsal is generally too late to start my practicing. I’m always sorry if I’m not prepared.

I get hung up on the dailies of life.

I often do that with my spiritual life, too. I get hung up on the dailies of life. There’s the exercise–walk/go to the gym, what am I going to make for dinner tonight? What will I write in my blog this week? I notice a lot of weeds poking through the ground, reminding me I must take care of them. I should be practicing, not watching a movie, reading a novel and on and on. You get the picture.

Spiritual fitness.

What’s more important than the practicing, the exercise, the weed pulling, meal making, should be my spiritual fitness. I’m reminded of David. Before he was king or a warrior, he was a shepherd and familiar with the outdoors. He asked God to “keep him safe,”  “apart from You I have no good thing,” and the above portion of the psalm, “You make known to me the path of life.” And to finish the phrase, “You will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand.”

Check it out.

That’s really everything that I need. Apart from God, there is no good thing. I find it to be true more and more each day. But I’m human and sometimes I forget. I put off reading and studying the most important book. How about you? Perhaps on this rainy day, you can pull out your Bible (does it need dusting because you haven’t used it?) and open it to the Psalms. All of them are good, but today, number 16 gave me promise. Check it out. You’ll be encouraged.