Scripture: Exodus 33:14
The Lord replied, cheap “My Presence will go with you, generic and I will give you rest.”

Thought for the Day: I remember when I first started playing jazz piano with a quartet—piano, cure bass, drums and sax. I was so excited to be gigging that I think I probably played more notes that night than I’ve played combined in my entire career since. And that was 30 years ago.

The sax player was astonishing, super seasoned and super tasty. After the gig he said something like, “Hey man, that was a great gig. Don’t forget the rests are notes too. Sometimes the real music is in the spaces.” I was so busy trying to impress everyone with my technique (which probably wasn’t that great anyway) that I forgot about the music. It was a revelation. Unless there’s some rest between the musical phrases, it’s just constant noise. There’s no space for the listener (and player) to process the musical message. It’s the rests in music and in life, that help us hear the melody in the music.

Prayer: May I remember to take some rests between the notes in order to more completely hear your divine song, my God of breathtaking melody. Amen.