I have been reaching into the depths of my ancestry... to touch my Cherokee roots.
I decided to make a Native American flute. I knew of a place that offered classes in flute-making, so I decided to start there.
The piece of wood I selected was Blood-wood from Central and South America. It was beautifully luminescent and deeply red. It is called "blood" wood because the sap is red and when it gets injured, the trees appear to bleed.
This particular piece of wood was warped and twisted. The master flute-maker said, "It will take a lot of care and work, but I think we can make this into a beautiful flute." I thought about that for a moment...
WE are "twisted" and "warped" but the Master, with His special care can make something beautiful out of us! I just HAD to try... in honor of my Savior!
We shaved and planed the wood until it was a perfect fit. We glued it with Liquid Nails and clamped it tight. The next week, we put it on the lathe for the true test. Would it break apart? Or, would it survive the strain?
This is my BEAUTIFUL Blood-wood flute!
I enjoyed it so much that I decided to make a SECOND flute! This time it is out of Black Walnut in honor of President Hinkley. It is lower and mellow... definitely a different personality from the first.
So, I began to think about how these flutes were once part of a living thing... like we used to be in the presence of God.
They were cut off... much like the way we have been spiritually removed from heaven.
Then, with love and caring we can take it in our hands and blow new life into it.... so it can give back something truly beautiful....
So God does with us...
Now, I'm making a drone flute out of Curly Maple. You can see some wider flutes here. It's actually two flutes together. You can play them both at the same time like a flute duet. It's truly beautiful!
I'm also making an authentic Native American costume based upon traditional patterns. We are planning to include some of this in our musical tour in Europe. We will connect music to worship and the Native American music to the visit by Christ to the Americas.
... to be continued.....