ODE TO UNDERSTANDING

As I woke this morning, I felt a pop in my left ear. That is not an unusual feeling for me- I have had hearing problems since I was a kid. However, this time was different. My hearing became much poorer than it had ever been before. I realized immediately that it was hard to tell what was going on around me. Losing the ability to hear is frightening to anyone. But it is especially so to me as a musician, who spends a great deal of time playing the piano, singing and composing music.

But I am not going completely deaf, and this recent problem is likely temporary. What would a musician do if he lost all his hearing? How could someone practice an art form based on hearing without the ability to hear?

In other words, what did Ludwig Van Beethoven do? As he completed his second symphony, Beethoven - perhaps the most famous of all composers- began to loose his hearing. By the time he was 50, the master of symphony was completely deaf. Yet, he continued to compose, even though he could not hear his own compositions. One of his famous compositions ever was his ninth symphony (Ode to joy) and he never heard a note of it, along with hundreds of his other compositions deemed masterpieces today.

Life was not easy for Beethoven. Infact, he even considered taking his life, even going so far as to write a suicide note to his brothers.

No one would have blamed him for giving up on his music. On the surface, it might seem ridiculous for a deaf man to compose at all. He might very well have felt that way himself. Still being able to hear the music in his mind, he was able to compose many great works. Had he given up on his dreams, the shape of music history would never have been the same today.

History makes mention shining examples like Beethoven-painters who lost their eyesight, runners who lost their leg and many others. What would stop you from following through with your goals? What obstacles would cause you to say,” this is too hard” and abandon your ambitions. The things you must do in order to succeed in life are not always easy. They require perseverance. Sometimes, this means sticking with it through a difficult test, like Beethoven did. When things got tough, he plunged himself into his work.

You also face tests and trials- how do you react. Do you continue to pursue you goals, determined to achieve them no matter what opposes you? It is easy to give in to what seems like an insurmountable problem. It can be difficult to learn and develop the skills we need to develop in life. Yet, this is what each of us is called to do. Curiously, Beethoven’s life work is of little benefit to those like him, those who cannot hear. But the example he set is useful to anyone - whether deaf, blind, or unimpaired. What priceless lesson- a fantastic showing of drive, determination, perseverance, and highly developed skill. This man could hear nothing composed some of the most innovative, exciting music of his day- music that is still heard and performed everyday allover the earth.

So ask yourself: what can I accomplish