OUT THERE: Young violinist touches older heartstrings

Alexander Knecht unpacked his violin and sheet music and slipped into Marvin Baker's dimly lit hospital room.

The 81-year-old patient, bedridden by a series of illnesses and unable to respond, stared blankly at the wall.

Knecht lifted his bow and played "Rock of Ages," the lilting sounds swiftly displacing the room's cold quiet.

"I play for him every week," Knecht said, stepping into the corridor. "He can't speak very well, but he appreciates the music, I think."

Since he began playing violin at the Jerry L. Pettis Memorial VA Medical Center in Loma Linda last February, the earnest 17-year-old has grown used to the strokes, dementia and crippling disease afflicting so many here.

My daughter was a gospel singer for a couple of years between home school and college. Her group was pretty good and went to hundreds of churches and other venues and went to several competitions in Nashville and other cities. They sang with many famous groups from The Poet Voices and the Tally's on down, and sang in front of thousands. My daughter has said very often the most fulfilling moment was at a Salvation Army center in Beaumont, filled with wino's and single mothers running from abusive husbands. Everyone was touched, even non believers asked what young people were doing there on a Saturday night? Many men were weeping, children were still and quiet listening to the words, about half even asked the kids what they had to do to saved.

There was a complete difference from a free gig and one that charged ticket money and "sang to the choir", so to speak. The money barely paid for the gas and equipment, but the free ones changed people and my daughter. IMHO, everyone has some ability so minister to someone. If it's nothing but going to the store for a widower, or cutting someone's grass for them when you are mowing your own.

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