“A musician must make music, an artist must paint, a poet must write, if he is to be ultimately at peace with himself.”

— Abraham Maslow

As a music major in college, I studied, played and worked with a number of people who eventually became world-class musicians and performers in genres ranging from opera to jazz and rock ’n’ roll.

While each person was unique, the silver thread that ran through them all was that music came first in their lives, before eating, sleeping, dating or anything else.

In those days I just saw those people as obsessed and on a quest for fun.

Now, however, after years of studying Infinite Intelligence and how it seeks individuated expression in and through all sentient beings, I see it differently.

What I mistook as an obsession and a quest for fun was really the creative passion of spirit having its way with my friends.

They were making themselves 100 percent available to the creative urge—the divine impulse of life to expand and be expressed. In other words, each became the willing and unique instrument of the One.

Regardless of the medium, artists can be a restless bunch. Unless they are in the process of creation there seems to be a piece (and peace) missing.

Their greatest moments of inner peace usually come while, and directly after, they perform or create. Playing music really wasn’t an option for my friends.

Expressing their inner nature through their music was why they came to Earth, and they were simply yielding to that purpose whether they knew it or not.

Maslow might have called such a person self-actualized, becoming so much at one with the moment of expression that they literally became the music, resulting in the peak experience.

There is nothing quite like that mystical moment when the artist and the medium become one, as if melting into the essence of the creation itself, losing all sense of separation from life.

The exciting thing for me is, whether we know it or not, you and I are also instruments for the divine.

We have the daily opportunity to have a peak experience because we, too, have come to give form and expression to the divine essence of life.

Once the awareness of this truth starts to stir, amazing energy begins to flow through us as if we were but a flute in the hands of the divine, manifesting in a particular form of expression that is unique to who we each are.

The question I invite you to ponder is this: What did you come to this planet to express?

Understand, you will not find true inner peace until you are doing “it.” It most certainly does not have to be in music or the arts, but make no mistake about it, you are a unique and perfect instrument for the divine.

The universe is playing the song of life through you. Given this awareness, it would be wise to keep your instrument in tune by practicing daily the presence of God, making yourself available to that cosmic impulse which is always seeking a receptive vessel into which it may flow with grace and ease.

Your “song” may show up in ways you never expected. Once you give the universe a sign that you are open and receptive, be prepared!

As a mindfulness practice consider inviting God to use you as an instrument today.

Open yourself fully to the moment, regardless of what you are doing, so that the essence of God’s love flows freely through you.

Be willing to go with the flow and see where it leads and delight in noticing you are more than your body; you are an instrument of the divine. Then, become aware of the peace and joy that follow.

This is the bliss of knowing you are one with an amazing universe. My old musician friends have nothing over you and me.

Dennis Merritt Jones is a local spiritual mentor, keynote speaker and author of the book “The Art of Being: 101 Ways to Practice Purpose in Your Life.” Contact him at www.DennisMerrittJones.com.