In Tune

After we moved I had planned to get our piano tuned, but with the passing of busy days it was something that got neglected.
When our daughter came home last fall, it was one of the first things she wanted to have done.  Since she plays violin and the girls were practicing together, the piano being out of tune was an issue.
Finally after quite a bit of time and many phone calls trying to make contact with the tuner it was arranged, although I was away from home when it was done.

I came home after being gone several days and walked around my house moving little things back into place, picking up items and just generally getting a feel for my house again.
Walking into the living room my eyes fell on my piano where two little piles of "trash" were left.

Obviously left by the tuner who had removed them from somewhere on the insides of the piano
.At first glance I thought it was strange that he had left them there & not just dumped them in the garbage can.
The first pile was pretty much trash, dirt & debris.

along with the trash there was a single sheet of notes.
Some special notes, written by one of my children during a special time.
Some sweet thoughts there, but hidden & unable to be
read because they'd been lost.

The second pile obviously had a few more tangible items in it.
Taking a closer look it made me stop and think.

 What do we have inside our lives
Things we've forgotten about, things we don't see, things we refuse to see
Maybe things others don't see--or even DO see.

 Maybe something good.
Something sweet-- but unable to be seen by others or used because it is hidden.
Lost, buried under the rubbish.

Trash.  Dirt. Something that is unclean & puts a blight on everything around it.
Coins, money, pencils, hair pins, hair decorations, a diaper pin.(that are long past their useful time)
Game pieces--only a partial piece of a whole unit. "People" that only drag us down & are not beneficial in our lives. Broken items that cannot be used or repaired.
Useful, but not in the right place or order.

Buried, taking up space, contaminating other things around it and clogging our lives, keeping us from being in tune.
It was a good thought for me.
To remove things from my life that are a hindrance.
That keep me from being in tune.
And even more than that, be willing to let God touch me-
To clean out/remove things that He sees are a hindrance to my service.

And a reminder of one of my favorite songs.

"Whenever your life is out of tune-
and no melody soothes your soul,
Look to the Master whose gentle touch..
Will bless you and make you whole.
Like an old violin with so little worth,
A life may be far less than grand...,
But may be transformed in a moment you see,
By the Touch Of The Master's hand."