BEGINNING AGAIN THE UNFINISHED SYMPHONY

The famous Austrian composer, Franz Peter Schubert, was born in a small suburb of Vienna in 1797. His mother once had been a cook. His father was a parish schoolmaster and fine musician. Consequently, young Schubert’s musical abilities were discovered early in his childhood. The training his father gave him developed his gifts and prepared him for advanced schools.

Young Franz Schubert began to compose prolifically. Influenced greatly by Mozart, Schubert, we are told, was unsurpassed in poetic impulse. He always wrote with great speed and thus gave the impression of improvisation. One authority says that his work was “fresh, vivid, spontaneous, impatient of restraint, full of rich color and warm imaginative feeling.” “He was,” says the authority, “the greatest songwriter who ever lived!” (Encyclopedia Britannica, 1946 edition, v. 20, p. 107)

Even so, Schubert, with all his ability and potential died in 1828 at the youthful age of 31. Unquestionably, there was much music yet within him to find its expression, not the least of which was the remainder of his famous “Unfinished Symphony”. He had begun it in 1822, but died six years later before he was able to complete it.

In this new year we have much in common with Franz Schubert. Many of us have had the advantage of a good background and fine schooling. Many of us are blessed with talents and abilities. And whether we be young or old, our life is, in many ways, an unfinished symphony. We have potential not yet actualized, talents not yet utilized, dreams not realized, and goals not yet achieved.

If Franz Schubert never completed his “Unfinished Symphony” because of physical death, many of us never complete our life’s symphony because of spiritual or psychological death. But this new year provides an opportunity once again to take up the task of developing the unfinished symphony of our lives.

What advice would the scriptures have for us as we begin again our life’s unfinished symphony?

1.

For one thing, we need to keep ourselves open for inspiration. Or as Paul put it: “All who are moved by the Spirit of God are sons (and daughters) of God..…The Spirit joins with our spirit in testifying that we are God’s children…..”

Probably one of the greatest causes of stoppage on our life symphony is lack of inspiration or enthusiasm. We meet up with problems and become discouraged. We struggle with self-doubt and become disheartened. Criticism or lack of self-esteem may curtail our willingness to try something new. And as a consequence, we arrest our development by spiritual death as Schubert’s was arrested by physical death.

This experience is not uncommon, even for some of the world’s most creative people. Authors speak of “Writer’s Block” and composers will complain of an inward barrenness and sterility.

Some years ago I attended a memorable conference on “Creativity” at the Gustavus Adolphus College in Minnesota. Just what is creativity? And how does it happen? were questions asked of the conference leaders. And for me, the most memorable conference leader was Dr. Jacob Bronowski.

Bronowski told the conference that openness is needed for creativity – openness and a sense of expectancy. If we assume we know it all and have experienced it all, we allow little opportunity for the spirit of the new to work in us. He reminded us that Plato suggested we received new ideas from God by intuition. And he reminded us of how ancient writers waited for the “muse”, that genius of inspiration to descend upon them so as to be able to create. It is that same word, “muse”, which is the root of the word “music.”

Paul the apostle would substitute Spirt of God for “muse” and would reassure us that God wishes to inspire us and fil us with his creative presence so that we can go on to finish our life’s symphony. Paul assures us that the Spirit comes to our aid in our discouragement or weakness, giving us new life and spirit for the new year. We need to ask for it, and keep open to it and maintain an attitude of expectancy. (to be continued)