I don't know what my parents paid Johnny Bogush to give me accordion lessons in our home for quite a few years, but whatever it was, it wasn't enough.
Bogush was a well-known, local musician who performed frequently with his group and solo. He also made house calls - giving accordion and organ lessons in his students' homes.
He first made his weekly stop at 234 W. Second St. when my brother Phil began lessons. Unfortunately for Bogush, Phil just gave him a false sense of security. Phil developed into a good accordionist because he practiced regularly.
That didn't happen to me because I didn't play regularly. Often, the first time I would practice what I was assigned the previous week was about 15 minutes before the current week's lesson was about to begin.
Bogush's trial by music began when I haltingly made my way through that week's polkas and other songs. I think I hit more wrong notes than right, but he was a trooper and suffered through it.
At the very end, he would borrow the accordion and play a song effortlessly and perfectly. This was supposed to show me how it was done, but I think it was more of a goodwill offering to neighbors who had to put up with my playing.
While Bogush has spent the intervening years trying to forget the sounds of my playing, a memory of those music lessons prompted a spiritual insight.
God has given us the ultimate lessons in leading a good life now and a joyful eternity later - love Him and love others. It is up to us to practice them.
Many of us put off this rehearsal until just before we are going to visit God's house. As a result of lack of practice, our melody of life is frequently off-key.
God has shown us how to live and Jesus played this song of faith, hope and love perfectly. However, He will not play it for us even though it would sound divine.
His song is one each of us must practice continuously. If we don't, how can we expect to play it well?
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If we don't practice our faith,
how can we ever improve?