…My grace is enough; it’s all you need. My strength comes into its own in your weakness. Once I heard that, I was glad to let it happen. I quit focusing on the handicap and began appreciating the gift. It was a case of Christ’s strength moving in on my weakness…
—2 Corinthians 12:9 MSG
The young composer, at the height of his career, was also at his highest point of distress.
Why was he distressed? He was losing his hearing.
To never again hear a bird chirping or the voice of a loved one would be jarring for anyone.
But for Ludwig van Beethoven, who had lived in the world of music since learning to play piano as a child, the encroaching deafness was becoming more than he could bear.
After seeing a friend turn toward a sound coming from a distance when he heard only silence, Beethoven wrote:
“Such incidents drove me almost to despair… but little more and I would have put an end to my life—only my art, it seemed to me, held me back.”
Thanks to his art—and the awareness that he, indeed, had one—Beethoven rallied from his despair.
And in the process, he developed an originality in his work that might never have come about had he retained his hearing.
When Silence Speaks Louder Than Sound
The very fact that he had become deaf to the music of his contemporaries and, therefore, uninfluenced by them, freed Beethoven to create what had not already been done.
His 3rd symphony, “Eroica” (Heroic), was one such creation. It introduced audiences to sounds unlike those they had heard before.
For instance, low-volume notes were hushed, and high-volume notes thundered. The contrast captivated audiences.
Expressive drama was to continue to be a hallmark of the music given to us by Beethoven, an embattled yet unbroken man whom we recognize today as one of the greatest composers of all time.
Is poor health or some other nagging problem getting you down emotionally or slowing you down physically?
If so, let it.
Let it take you into the silence — as it did Beethoven.
Often, it is in stillness and quiet that you regain your focus and remember your art.
Then, take the time to seek the One who gave you your art, with the confidence that He will help you to continue to share it with others.
This is something I, myself, am learning to do, by necessity. But I’ll tell you more about that later.
QUOTES FOR CREATIVES BY CREATIVES
🎁WEAKNESS IS A GIFT
These three American creatives remind us that, unless we let them, our limitations don’t close the door on us.
On the contrary, they can open doors wide open so we can see what only God can do.
“In our weakness, God can be strong. It is when we are broken that the light can shine through.“
author madeleine l’engle
“I am a Christian because I know I’m weak and I need somebody to be strong for me. And I’ve got a Savior who is strong for me.”
Musician Rich Mullins
“God delights in using weak people because everyone has weaknesses. If God only used perfect people, nothing would get done. God will use us if we allow Him to work through our weaknesses.”
Artist and author Joni Eareckson Tada
ARTIST’S CORNER
🎧GUESS WHO HAS JUST APPEARED ON A PODCAST?
When one of my favorite podcast hosts, Enneagram Coach Amy Wicks of The Simply Wholehearted Podcast, invited me to speak on her show, I said, ‘Yessss!’
And now, I’m inviting you to take a listen.
On this episode, I shared from my heart and life about a personal struggle and a few other topics you may not have heard me discuss before. I found the experience fun, surprising, and life-changing.
I hope you will, too. So, once again, here’s that link.
And that’s a wrap for this edition.
Until next time, stay curious.
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