We live in a culture that treats music as a disposable commodity—something to be consumed and discarded. But as a father, I learned that culture is not something you just consume; it is something you build. Deuteronomy 6:6-7 commands us to impress the truths of God upon our children, and for me, that mandate had a rhythm and a melody attached to it.
I realized that passing down our values was often done best without a lecture. For me, it happened on the guitar and bass. Whether I was helping my youngest daughter find her way around the fretboard, working on bass lines with my oldest son to lock in the groove, or jamming with my younger brother, these weren’t just technical lessons. They were moments of shared life.
I found that the most effective way to engage them was to meet them where they were, helping them play the music that genuinely interested them. By valuing their perspective, I earned the right to guide their journey. We were in the room together, feeling the vibration of the strings, learning the discipline of hitting the right note at the right time.
There was something profound in the physical, analog act of playing as a family. It demanded patience and the ability to listen to one another. To play well in a group, we had to set aside individual ego to serve the song. That was a life lesson that didn’t need to be explained—it was felt in the fingers and heard in the harmony.
Psalm 78:4 tells us, “We will not hide them from their descendants; we will tell the next generation the praiseworthy deeds of the Lord.”
By simply playing together, we created a sanctuary of sound. In a world that was loud, confused, and increasingly hollow, our home became a place of objective beauty. We were building a fortress of discipline and excellence that reminded us who we were. My children may not remember every word I spoke, but they carry the memory of those chords ringing true and the quiet, steady bond of making music with their father.
This was cultural preservation in its rawest, most essential form. It was one instrument, one song, and one generation at a time, keeping the fire of the faith alive through the beauty of the craft.