One String Banjo.

I think it was in the summer of ‘73.  My old friends Colin and Dee were to be married in Sebeka and they asked me to come and sing.  I had written a tune now long forgotten (I know it was about the love of Jesus).  I showed up in the nick of time and opened my old banjo case.

Now this old tenor banjo was one that somebody had given me (I can’t remember who).  It was well worn to say the least.  The favorite chords of the original owner were easy to trace by the deep grooves in the fretboard which made it a little challenging to play in tune.

I opened the case and suddenly was reminded (I was a bit anxious about this) that one of the 4 strings on this old instrument was missing.  I was down to three strings.  Oh well…what do you do? The church was packed, the service had begun…there was nowhere to hide.  You go with what you’ve got.

So I played those three strings and sang the love of Jesus for all I was worth and as I did I felt something deep inside that I can’t describe.  Something like the pleasure of God…a kind of transcendent, shimmering  joy.  It was His pleasure on the occasion of these two (future missionaries)  coming together in a sacred bond, and yes…His pleasure in me and in that old three stringed banjo.

It was as if God was showing something back then.  “These are the kinds of instruments that I delight to use.”  Broken…grooved…imperfect…well worn…road weary instruments.

So now I open up the case (my life) to see myself. Much like that old banjo I’m old and grooved…broken…imperfect.  And I’m down to one string.  I’ve got a one string banjo now.  Its all very clear.  I’m down to the gospel.  Its where I belong.  Its who I am.  So I mean to play it and sing the Love of Jesus for all I’m worth. God help me sing!

Those who sow in tears will reap with songs of joy. He who goes out weeping, carrying seed to sow, will return with songs of joy, carrying sheaves with him.  Psalm 126:5-6