Music has been a part of my life since a
very young age. In kindergarten, teachers discovered some musical talent
in me and I started study on the piano sometime in the first grade.
Later I started the bassoon in the 4th grade. In the midst of
all that musical training I never guessed that I would
discover God. I thought that you found God in a church. But that isn't
where my life was touched by Him.
I attended a music camp (Marrowstone Music Festival) in the Pacific
Northwest at the age of 15. It was a three-week camp and I think it was
the second summer I attended. A friend of mine had been to a
church camp the prior month and his life was dramatically altered
through an experience there. When he accepted Jesus into his life he
felt a dramatic change. He told me that he now prayed on his paper
route for dogs not to bite him and for God's help in all his other
duties. He said that God did indeed help him and life was
different. Now, he even read the Bible enthusiastically
every day.
I was familiar with the Bible since I had attended a church for several
years with my family. However, I didn't understand much about Jesus's
life, how a person could communicate with God, and on the whole I
didn't see any relevancy to any of it. However, as we talked more and
more it started to make sense.
It was a Thursday evening and it was now time to go to our evening
orchestra rehearsal. We arrived at the hall only to see a sign posted that
the rehearsal was canceled. All the years I attended the camp as a
student and later as a teacher (8 years in all) a rehearsal has been
canceled only once: that very evening. We went back to our
dormitory and talked some more. He lent me his Bible to read that
evening. I don't remember the exact moment of the change but sometime
that evening I knew that I connected with God; I had found God. I had
asked God to change my life and I yielded myself to Him.
I distinctly remember the way in which my mind changed. It was as if a
fog had been lifted from my brain. Colors seemed brighter, I began to
understand spiritual things in a different way, and for the first time
I felt peace in my life. This was a tremendous transformation for me:
the greatest I have ever experienced in my life.
A week or so after camp was over I went back to study piano lessons
with Bela Siki. Before I had played more than about two or three
phrases he stopped me and said, "Something has changed. Your touch is
much more sensitive." I was too shy and embarrassed to explain the
transformation that occurred in my life. In fact I was still
trying to process just what was happening. It hadn't occurred to me
that my musicality would be changed as well. Now I understand that God
wants to touch and improve every aspect of my life. I began to realize
that God was working in my inner self and anything that came out of
it--thoughts, language, music, actions--would be impacted by those
changes.
Clearly I can't say that I somehow earned that change in my life. I
wasn't devoted to a quest to find God and truth. It is more accurate to
say that God sought me rather than I sought God. I was just going
about living, trying to practice bassoon and piano, doing my school
work, surviving adolescence, etc. But now when I look back on my life I
realize that there were many times when I felt the presence of God or
the pull of His spirit. Over and over again God was trying to get
my attention and communicate with me.
Please understand that I am not finished changing! The process that was
begun on August 9th, 1973 was just the start. There is a lot of work
yet to be done with me. I fail everyday to live up to my full potential.
However, I am also at peace knowing that God is working with me, in me, and
through me.
I suspect that if you are honest you will also acknowledge that you
have felt the pull of God at times in your life. He has the peace,
fulfillment, and happiness you have been searching for. I had a young
friend who told me about Jesus and God. Let me be your friend and tell you as well.
If you are interested in learning more click here.
God bless you. I pray that you will find peace and rest for your inner self.
Terry B. Ewell
Artwork and Graphics by Terry B. Ewell
Copyright 2015-19 by Terry B. Ewell.