Wednesday, July 3, 2019

“It will happen in a moment, in the blink of an eye, when the last trumpet is blown. For when the trumpet sounds, those who have died will be raised to live forever. And we who are living will also be transformed.” (1 Corinthians 15:52, New Living Translation)

                Saxophones are never mentioned in the Bible – harps, lutes, flutes, trumpets, tambourines but no saxophones, mainly because, of course, the saxophone wasn’t invented until around 1841 by Adolphe Sax.

                But now there is a worthy musician who has joined the reed sections of whatever heavenly jazz band is playing in whatever celestial club.  

Our good friend, John Oosterbroek, passed away last week, the cherished husband of his wife, Tish. He was a much beloved musician in our city and a member of our church. He played the saxophone, clarinet and flute with wonderful  panache and skilful expertise – jazz, classical, religious, you name it. John played with our worship team. But he conducted orchestras, played in clubs, played for various bands, and was an active member of the music community here in Peterborough.

As good and excellent as all that is, better yet, he was a friend of mine. He had a droll wit, an appreciative spirit, an inquisitive mind and beneath what some interpreted as a gruff manner was a big and caring heart. He always was interested in our family. He was someone with whom I could share my concerns around the church and he kept it in confidence.

What might surprise some people is the high regard he has from his students whom he taught in high school for a few years. Most, if not all, give him credit for their deep love of music and in some cases going on to major in music in university and make careers out of music. One woman who had received her doctorate in music gives John the credit. John had inspired and awoken something in these students and they haven’t forgotten.

I had a taste of that skill a few years back when I tried to revive my saxophone playing which I had first learned in high school. I took weekly lessons. I could have taken daily lessons and it wouldn’t have made a difference. I was really awful. But John was patient, encouraging, helpful and instructive but I must have been torturing him with the cacophonous noise coming from my rented saxophone.

Saxophones are not ‘horns” technically.  Nevertheless, allow me to take a small liberty and include them in the horn section of heaven. A ram’s horn, for instance, was a popular OT instrument for the people of God. A blast of the ram’s horn could mean that God’s Holy Presence was close at hand. “On the morning of the third day, thunder roared and lightning flashed, and a dense cloud came down on the mountain. There was a long, loud blast from a ram’s horn, and all the people trembled.” (Exodus 19:16, NLT)

It always signaled that something special was happening “Sing your praise to the Lord with the harp, with the harp and melodious song, with trumpets and the sound of the ram’s horn. Make a joyful symphony before the Lord, the King!” (Psalm 98: 5 -6) It was the horn for sounding the battle call.  It could rally the people or inspire them or call them to action or even repentance. “Blow the ram’s horn in Jerusalem! Announce a time of fasting; call the people together for a solemn meeting.” (Joel 2:15, NLT)

When John wailed away on his axe (slang for a saxophone) it could evoke in me feelings that made me appreciate how sacred and mysterious music can be. Music has a way of connecting us to the creative side of life. Music can express in ways that words cannot those deep inner feelings of thought and spirit. Music captures our moods and often enables us to get out of our funks and melancholia. Music can express the spiritual natures of our beings.

So perhaps if Gabriel ever gets tired of trumpet practice in preparation for the big Resurrection Day, maybe he can let John have a few notes of his own, even on the saxophone.  He won’t regret it!

Dale