Influence

Influence

By

Jim Van de Riet

“Fly me to the Moon, Let me play among the stars, Let me see what spring is like, On Jupiter and Mars”

Those are the first 4 lines of a classic American song “Fly me to the Moon” written by Bart Howard in 1954 and recorded by many artists - most notably Francis Albert Sinatra. I have played this song many times on my circa 1982 Wurlitzer console piano. This piece is still not perfect – still needs work on my part.

Though Wurlitzer is a well-known name in juke boxes and organs and not so much in pianos but hearing the name “Steinway” you immediately associate that word with American made pianos of the highest quality. Steinway pianos are used by many artists such as Billy Joel, Harry Connick, Jr and, in the past, Cole Porter and Glen Gould.

There are 2 other brands that the Steinway company produces or owns. One line of pianos for the mid-price market is called “Boston” and the entry level line is called “Essex.” The Essex line is produced in China under the supervision of Steinway technicians. A Steinway, a Boston, or an Essex piano would be a most welcomed addition in any residence, most particularly mine.

I became acquainted with an Essex piano at the Barnes Hospital Siteman Cancer Center in St. Louis, MO.  This piano sits on the ground floor of a 10-story atrium – a perfect setting for any piano. In tune, of course.

A few years ago, my brother was a patient at the Siteman Cancer Center being treated for blood cancer – leukemia. Thanks to the good work of the doctors and nurses and a donation of 3.5 million stem cells from this writer my brother recovered and is now cancer free. God worked a miracle through the hands and minds of those doctors and nurses. I frequently tell my brother just how lucky he is as he was at death’s door preparing to knock.

The last time I was at the Siteman Center I saw the Essex piano unattended and, in my opinion, begging to be played. Grasping hold of courage, I sat down and played the first few bars of

“Fly Me to the Moon.” Singing justifiably withheld.

With pride enveloping around me, I was half expecting doctors and nurses to bolt from their offices and labs to listen to this music; half expecting patients to walk gingerly from their rooms with IVs and equipment attached and half expecting the general public all to take notice to see and hear this unknown artist perform this classic piece.

But none of that happened.

There was no disruption to the day’s work at hand. Doctors and nurses continued to treat patients who remained in their rooms. The general public paid no mind to me. The notes I played that day are probably still at the top of the atrium floating around so silently way beyond human hearing. After this mini performance I walked to the parking garage, got in my car and drove home.

In the Gospels Jesus performed miracle after miracle. Curing lepers, restoring sight and hearing, making cripples walk, raising the dead, multiplying loaves and fishes to feed thousands and calming a storm while at sea. These miracles were immediate by His touch and His words with the profound faith shown by those once afflicted.

Do you pray for a miracle some of the time? All of the time? Do you half expect a miracle to happen if you pray long enough, if you pray often enough, if you pray hard enough? When you have a tragedy unfolding in your life do you suddenly start praying to God asking for a miracle?

There is an often-said story, maybe half serious, of the college student who calls the parents when and only when he or she needs money. Do we half expect God to be our miracle ATM machine? Only there when we are in the midst of a personal crisis?

Thanking and praising God should be foremost in praying. There are so many gifts he has given us day in and day out – the visible and invisible. And at the end of the day what did you do to make the world a better place? Did you help a stranger, a friend or a relative? Did you see the face of God in a little child or a relative close to dying? Do you dedicate the next day and the next for doing God’s will and avoid temptations of the devil?

I remember that day playing the Essex grand piano at the Siteman Center. If I touched anyone’s heart that day or influenced anyone they must have kept it close to themselves. Several years ago one of my high school classmates visited the Siteman Center and walked past that very same Essex piano, walked to the very same parking garage as I used and got in his car. He never made it home that night. Beset by financial, business and divorce problems, that evening in the Siteman parking garage in his car he took his own life.

Sometimes I reflect that maybe, just maybe if our paths would have crossed that day, though the time frame was not right, we could have had a nice chat, maybe lunch, maybe have a beer together and events might have been altered.

God works miracles through us and we are not fully aware of them happening. Perhaps a kind word you say to a friend, relative or a complete stranger is part of a miracle. Perhaps an act of kindness can nudge that individual toward heaven, toward a better path. And now a prayer.

Lord, if it is your will and you find us worthy, fly us to the moon, to the stars and all the planets and when we enter heaven allow us to see all that you have created, all the mountains and valleys, all the rivers and seas, all the animals. For friends and family, we are ever thankful. For those seeking you, may they find you. For those asking and those needing help, may we be part of your miracle for them.  Amen