by Martha June

“Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth.”

John 4:23-24

Ron was one of my guitar teachers in High School. He did not teach me for long, but his lessons made a significant impact on my life. So much so, that now, years later, I still think about our lessons with fondness. Ron was my final guitar teacher. I had been taking lessons under two other gentlemen for a total of nine years, advancing very little. My parents found Ron in hopes that I would come to enjoy the instrument.

Walking down a hallway to my first lesson with Ron, I remember being filled with dread. I did not want to repeat my previous years of lessons.

Upon opening the door to his classroom, Ron met me with his welcoming smile. I introduced myself, and He asked me what type of music I wanted to learn. I told him, “Just worship music.” And the first of many lessons began.

Ron brought a song for me to learn one Tuesday called, “Give me Jesus.” He told me it was his favorite song. And then he proceeded to play that hymn while I sat and listened.

While watching him sing, I was struck by his reverent demeanor.

Ron’s eyes were closed, and he sang “Give me Jesus” simply and sincerely. He was completely taken with the lyrics. In the middle of the song, I saw a tear streak his face. Ron freely let his emotions show while he sang, and I was moved.

That moment has replayed in my mind for years.

Here are the words;

“In the morning when I rise,

Give me Jesus.

You can have all this world.

Just give me Jesus.”

What I was watching (although I could not have articulated it at the time) was a picture of Jesus truly satisfying the human heart. This satisfaction, resulted in an outpouring of thanksgiving and worship. Ron’s heart was so satisfied in the person of Jesus.

Unbeknownst to Ron, outside of lessons I had felt the Holy Spirit tugging on my heart to try out for my church’s youth worship band. This was a tug I was actively trying to ignore. The very idea of playing on stage would send me into a panic.

Then “randomly” during one of our lessons, Ron said something along the lines of “Martha, you should try out for the youth band at church!”

Well, I did try out. And I made it into the band. I credit Ron with giving me the push I needed to obey that tug.

Not long after this, Ron had to stop lessons due to health complications. He could not physically play anymore. But, he made himself available if I ever needed him.

The guitar I used during our lessons was my “Elvis guitar.” It was purchased on a family trip in Tupelo Mississippi. My dad had bought it in the store were Elvis bought his first guitar. It was a simple acoustic instrument, and did not have the capability of being plugged into a speaker. This made it hard to hear me while I played on stage. Because of this, I got cocky. I would procrastinate practicing, causing any song I played to sound “off.”

We told Ron about the “off” sound and he invited my dad and I over to his home to have a look at the mechanics of my instrument. Ron kindly told me it was user error, and walked into the other room. He came out a few moments later carrying his personal guitar, one much nicer than my own.

Ron said it was for me, so that I could “continue playing on stage”. It had the capability to be plugged into a speaker.

I played his guitar for the remainder of my years in the High School worship band.

Since graduating the program, I have stopped playing the guitar publicly. However, I still practice it every once in a while. During quarantine, I pulled it out to play. And I was again reminded of the spiritual lesson that Ron taught me during that time.

Ron demonstrated what true worship of God is, and what it looks like.

Worship does not stem from talent, it stems from a close connection with Jesus Christ. God used him to show me that worship is less about ability, and more about a willing heart surrendered to God. God just was asking for my heart to be willing to obey him and worship him.

Ron’s heart serves both as a reminder and a challenge to me. He reminds me to look to Jesus to truly satisfy my heart and to desire Christ alone. When this happens my worship will be a product of thanksgiving and a close connection with Christ.

I pray that one day I have a heart like Ron

Sincerely,

Still learning.