The White Space Between The Notes
Part of the music
Three A's and an F. Known as "four notes that changed the world" according to many scholars, or also known as the beginning to Beethoven's Fifth Symphony. We've all heard it. We know it.
BUM BUM BUM BUMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM.
If it wasn't in your head before, it is now (sorry). There are four movements in the Fifth that result in an overall timeframe of 30-40 minutes to get through the entire thing. It's fascinating to look at the sheet music and see the genius that was Beethoven. Do you notice where your eyes are drawn? Mine are drawn to the notes. Notes of different sizes, shapes, progressions, and the symbols that accompany them. I believe that most people would probably fall in the same boat. It feels natural - to let the notes take your eyes on a journey through the four movements. Afterall, it is the notes the make up the music, right?
Yesterday, my wife and I had the opportunity to connect with other life group leaders within the Young Adults ministry at Fellowship, and listened to Brent Crenshaw teach for a few moments. Something he said stuck out to me:
"It's the white space between the notes that help make the music."
It had never occured to me that the white space in between the notes help establish the necessary spacing in order for the composition to go smoothly. No one really ever pays attention to the white space between the notes, becuase it's all about the notes and how they come together. But without the white space between the notes, the Fifth would probably sound like 30-40 minutes of notes rear-ending each other in a never ending crash. Chaotic. Things are happening between the notes (like space/time/rest), but we just don't see it or forget the importance that the white space between the notes holds.
I think many of us live our lives in this way. We are intensely focused on the notes that pop up in our life, (the things we go through, the objectives we complete, the mountains we must climb up or down, the seasons of life we endure), and forget the work that is happening between the notes. I wonder if you and I place too much emhasis or weight on the notes, and not enough recognition for the white space between them.
A practical example of this might be someone who is battling an addiction, with much success, but fails one time. What typically happens, is that the focus point now becomes the singular/most recent failure, rather than the tremendous progress, growth, dedication, and space between episodes of failure. This is to be expected though, as having an expectation of complete and total perfection is simply unrealistic. Similar to the adage "Don't miss the forrest for the trees," we should pay attention to what we're paying attention to. As we go through life and various seasons, trials, and tribulations, it's easy to "miss" the work that is done in the (smaller) white spaces between the (bigger) notes. So, the question for today is this:
Do I trust that God is working in the white spaces between the notes?
Don't negate the work God is doing in between the big things in your life. Sometimes, it is in the quiet space in life that God speaks the loudest. It's been true for me. With the guidance and help of the Holy Spirit, the work that is done in the white space between the notes should not be dismissed or looked over. Keep at it. Don't give up. In other words, stay the course, keep the faith, and fight the good fight. Take this truth and run with it today!
Iron Sharpens Iron!
-Dan