Recently I read a story of a 1993 study of piano students done by psychologist Anders Ericsson. Purposely he studied students of differing abilities. Some played at elite levels, some were merely average, and many were somewhere in the middle. A key finding was that a major difference from those well-known, stage performing pianists, and those who played locally was the quality and quantity of practice.
Since this study Ericsson’s study has been challenged and somewhat edited. Yet a general thesis seems to be affirmed for piano students to poker players: practice typically makes you better at things. This comes as great relief to me whenever I think about a doctor who “practices” medicine.
So if practice makes one better at Tiddlywinks to chicken farming, can it make us better at following Jesus? In fact, can one actually “practice” following Jesus? Perhaps a good example is the response of the local Amish community after the school shooting of one room Amish school in West Nickle Mines, Pennsylvania. Five school girls were killed and five more severely injured. Yet shortly after the shooting the Amish family reached out to the family of the shooter to offer both comfort and forgiveness. They went so far as to set up a charitable fund for the shooter’s family. When asked how they could do such a thing following an attack of such horror upon their community, their response was both swift and confident. “Do you think we just woke up and decided to do this?”, they asked, “This is who we are, this is what we teach and believe and work to live out every day of our lives.”
Would it be disrespectful to say that what the Amish had done prior to this tragic event was “practice” their faith? I don’t think so. Most of us should be so disrespected for such practice of our discipleship. Now there are some critical things we can say about the Amish life and lifestyle, but my point is this: for the disciple practice might not make perfect, but it can make for growth and depth.
Some pianists need to work on their left hand playing, some need to work at sight reading, while others need to think and reflect more upon the music for better interpretation. Some simply need to practice to learn and play a piece of music. What area of your discipleship could use some polish? What part of following Jesus might require a bit more thought out and practiced discipline on your part?
The Christian life, or perhaps better put, a Christian life is not built by a momentary decision or even one well thought-out decision. It is a life-long practice. It is one step, one success, one failure, one uncertainty at a time. It is learning and re-learning, and it is practice. It is practice over time.
Sometimes even the best strike a wrong note. This only serves as a reminder that all need practice; even the best who became the best need more practice. The Jesus whom we follow is okay with this. After all, the show must go on!
Pastor Gary