Bach in the Bible

I was thinking again about if I wrote a scripture I would include a special few stories that I adore from the Bible. One such story is Bach, um I mean Joseph. Same story, Johan Sebastian Bach had a story that I heard in music class when I was very young and it made the greatest impression on me. So, that I actually said, "I am going to be a composer, too." which is a very queer thing for a kid to even think. But, years later, I still want to be a composer more than anything else besides being a mother.

Ok, now it is time to tell the story of the boy who fatefully was punished and though things looked bleak, he was able to turn it into a most incredible opportunity. Wait. Who am I talking about? Bach, ofcourse.

His father forbid him from playing music, so he took music and copied each by hand thereby learning a lot. He did this by sneaking to an attic by candlelight when the household was asleep. He also wrapped up the strings on an old keyboard to practice unheard. I saw a similar episode of Bones called Prodigy where someone was forbidden to play, so he collected stones to make a faux or practice keyboard.

It reminds me of the time I worked at the Bon Marche' in Tukwilla, WA. Everyone was sales motivated, so the cash registers kept the record of who made the most sales. I was least senior, so I was often given dressing room duty. Though, it was an attempt to keep me off of the register, which would make them look better, it back fired. From putting away all of the clothes that people liked well enough to try on, I learned where and what our inventory was. So when high profile customers came in, I was able to truly help them and it was reported to my managers. At the time I was studying Joseph, the son of Jacob, in the old testiment, and as a descendant I saw similar situations and expected similar blessings in my life and so I drew the paralell to being sold into Egypt as a servant actually being an opportunity.

This morning I thought I bet Bach was also deserving of such a reward as he ended up blessed with such a great understanding of the workings of each note in the chorale, for instance.
Both Bach and Joseph taught a great principle through the way they chose to live when given a difficulty. I loved a quote that drips with this idea.

 “Success is determined not by whether or not you face obstacles, but by your reaction to them. And if you look at these obstacles as a containing fence, they become your excuse for failure. If you look at them as a hurdle, each one strengthens you for the next.”

― Ben Carson                   
"