The Penny Whistle

Recently I started reading some books by another Christian author - B.J HOFF - in my favourit genre - Christian historical. The Gold Coast Library doesn't have such a good selection as Bundaberg, but I have been able to find a few good books.

I started reading this one - about a teacher and his students, back in the late 1800's. I nearly put it down, because it was difficult reading about much his students loved and respected him, and what a wonderful teacher he was. But I persevered, and the story started to get a little more interesting.

The teacher in the story, Jonathon Stuart, was a musician - he played a flute; but someone had stolen it. After this, and with the fact that he was ill, made him start to think about giving up teaching. He didn't think he could go on - without the `music in him'. I don't want to give the whole story away, but in the end the children made him a penny whistle, and he began playing again. Not only that, but his love for teaching and his health was somehow renewed.

I think you can guess what that `somehow' was.

"I was so terribly, terribly wrong. It was the abscence of hope that had stolen my music, not the loss of the flute. I was living a hopeless life because I hadn't taken God into account. I had simply given up. But God hadn't apparently given up on me. He had another plan....... He reminded me of something I already knew but had temporarily lost sight of. He reminded me that hope is the real music of the soul. Without it, the human spirit cannot sour, cannot rise above the things of this earth - and sing." Jonathon Stewart, "A Distant Music' - Mountain Song Legacy - B.J HOFF.

I now know I was supposed to read this book. Oh, I have never really lost my hope, but I had lost something. In the next few months, through reading God's Word, and other books, I know I will find that `something'. I hope you will come on my journey with me.