It was Phil Driscoll’s trumpet playing that brought me to Jesus and for that I will always be indebted to this great musician.
During a short period in my life I dedicated myself to play along with Mr. Driscoll’s records; knowing full well that I would never be able to match his phenomenal high note playing. Still I played on and was inspired to do so.
Start the video “I Exalt Thee”
Sit and listen for twenty measures.
When Phil begins to sing, begin to read again.
“At the same time I was practicing to the souring sounds of Mr. Driscoll, I was doing a lot of bicycling. We were very fortunate to have a beautiful bike trail which connected Cedar Falls to Cedar Rapids some 50 miles to the south. When beginning my bike ride, I would place my ear buds in and punch in “I Exalt Thee” to start my ride. Listing to Mr. Driscoll’s voice in the clean morning air was soothing and calming. Most often the trail was clear and the path straight. All of my problems and pain began to fade”.
Listen for sixteen measures.
“Picture a clear, blue sky with distant sounds coming from the farm fields where corn was being collected before winter set in. Crows were sailing through the distant sky and deer ranged in a distant field. At each bend in the road brought a new picture of the landscape”.
Listen for eight measures.
“The smell of the recently plowed fields fills your lungs”.
Listen for eight measures.
“Gradually my speed would increase as Phil began to play his horn and by now I was sailing along with no thoughts of anything but the road ahead”.
Listen for eight measures.
“At the last modulation, when he began again to sing, I was screaming along. The Iowa countryside was flashing by at a tremendous pace. I was free to test my strength and endurance to their limits”.
Listen for eight measures.
“Now I was in top gear nothing could way me down…..”
That is the power of music.
Thank you Phil,
Thank you God.
