Friday Edition: Friday, March 10, 2023
An inspiring story made the rounds of all the major news outlets in the wake of the attack on September 11th. It had to do with a young man from Indiana, William Harvey, a violin and composition major at New York's renowned Julliard School.
He wrote, "Sunday, September 16th was the most incredible and moving experience of my life," and said that the Julliard School organized a quartet to play at the 69th Regiment Armory in Manhattan. In this place, families of those missing from the World Trade Center were sent to wait for the news of their loved ones.
Harvey arrived a little later than the other quartet members, and they played nonstop for six hours. Then, when the rest of the group could no longer play, he volunteered to stay and play a while longer. Finally, a Sergeant Major asked him if he would be willing to play for the soldiers returning from digging through the rubble at Ground Zero.
He said there were volunteers upstairs who would give them massages, and he could think of nothing more soothing than getting a massage and listening to violin music simultaneously.
William Harvey played for several more hours, everything from classical music and patriotic songs to Amazing Grace. By the night's end, he said his strings were shot, and he had no bow control. He forgot segments of some of the music and had to improvise, but the soldiers didn't seem to care. Finally, when he knew he could play no longer, he asked the Sergeant Major if it would be appropriate to play the national anthem as his last number. The sergeant called the soldiers in the room to attention, and as William Harvey played the anthem, 300 soldiers from the 69th Regiment saluted an invisible flag. The 69th Regiment is the most decorated in the United States Army.
As he returned to Julliard by taxi, he realized that this was the most meaningful experience he had ever had as a musician and person. He said that, at Julliard, teachers and students expect technical perfection, but Harvey played for the most appreciative audience of his life that night. William Harvey used his God-given gift, however imperfect it was at the time, to offer a helping hand and comfort others. He made himself available.
Harvey describes the experience, "And how did it change me? Let's say that next time I want to get into a petty argument about whether Richter or Horowitz was better, I'll remember that when I asked the Colonel to describe the pit formed by the tumbling of the Towers, he couldn't. Words only go so far, and music can only go a bit further."
Only those who keep themselves open can bring music to a world crying out in pain. Living in availability is freedom. By making myself available, I will not be weighed down by trivial matters. I am not going to be controlled by things or other people. I am free to be the person God has called me to be. The world is changed by those who are available to respond when the world cries and God calls.
God is looking for not power, prestige, knowledge, or money but availability.
Jamey
(Music performed by the Modern Worship Team of Gainesville First United Methodist Church, Gainesville, Georgia)
Every year, March is designated Women’s History Month by presidential proclamation. The month is set aside to honor women’s contributions to American history.
We all have women who have impacted us in ways that have made us better human beings and challenged us to live into a better version of ourselves.
Who are you celebrating? I encourage you to nominate someone who has impacted you or the community and write a summary of the contributions you want to celebrate. Send a photo to jamey.prickett@ngumc.net, and I will include it in the March newsletter.
From Meredith Pierce
I nominate my mom, Toni Britt. She has always inspired me with her selflessness, service to others, and love for God. It started by raising the 5 of us, but it spread so much further. She would have had a great excuse to bow out of serving others when she raised us. Still, God must have given her supernatural strength because she was always very involved at church and even headed up The Christian Women’s Club when we were all under ten years old.
Mom went back to work as a pharmacist when we got a little older, and she ministered and showed God’s love to her customers every day as she worked. Even after retiring, you’d think she’d rest, but she led an elementary Sunday School class and was a youth group leader for years.
I’m so happy to have her here in town with us now, and finally, I get to serve alongside her at Path, where all of the 4th graders call her “Mimi” and run to greet her when they see her at school or programs.
These are some of the reasons my mom inspires me, but there are so many more. She has taught me throughout my life, many times without words, that “Love is a verb.”
Who are you Celebrating?
MAKE A DIFFERENCE
Gainesville First United Methodist Church is partnering with the Junior League of Hall County and collecting diapers and pull-ups. You can drop off diapers at the church Sunday - Thursday.
Address: 2780 Thompson Bridge Rd Gainesville, Georgia 30506