God and Guitars
Collections come in all shapes and sizes. Some are of great monetary value, whilst others are worthless, but to the collector they are priceless!
When I was a child, I remember watching Swap Shop on Saturday morning TV. There was no end of collectors on there, my favourite being the child with over 500 erasers. What an achievement!
From tea towels to super cars, it seems that anything can be collectable! Are you a collector? Is there something that you can’t resist finding, buying, building, or adding too?
I read recently about the Rolling Stones, Keith Richards' love affair with the guitar. The article said: He owns more than a thousand of them – although he only plays a select few on stage – and, even as he approaches 80, the star is still bewitched by the instrument.
The OAP rocker said, “The fascinating thing is that the more you play it, the less you know it. It provides you with endless questions. You can never know the whole thing. It's impossible.”
I’m not a great guitar player, but I do understand where he is coming from! My late grandfather was a talented musician. He played a variety of instruments but most notably the keyboard. He once said to me that with just a handful of notes (an octave) there are limitless possibilities – he is right!
Pondering this, I was reminded of something in the Bible, written by the Apostle Paul in his letter to the Christians in Rome…
“Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God!
How unsearchable his judgments, and his paths beyond tracing out!
‘Who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has been his counsellor?’”
It seems to me that what Keith Richards says about the guitar, is the same as what Paul wrote about God.
God is far above our comprehension and beyond our understanding. We can never know all about Him, it’s impossible.
I’ve always found great comfort in this. If I could fully comprehend, or work God out, then it reduces His greatness, His majesty, and His glory. It is boxed in by my understanding. In other words, God becomes smaller.
I like the idea that there are mysteries to God, things I can’t grasp: He then becomes much bigger and beyond myself.
The Bible states that God created the universe, the planets, this earth and all life on it. God has to be far bigger than you and I can understand.
I am happy to believe this and to marvel at His greatness… what about you?
God bless you :)
Gary Bastin - Hope Community Church leader