by Susan Cisek / A disastrous piano recital at fourteen taught Susan Cisek to stay safe. Twenty-five years later, a psalm heard on a silent retreat by Lake Michigan asked her to reconsider.
Psalm 34
Taste and see the goodness of the Lord.
I sought the Lord, who answered me
and delivered me from all my fears.
Look to God that you might be radiant with joy,
and your face free from all shame.
Susan’s Reflection
A disastrous piano recital at age 14 became the starting point for my journey beyond fear. My fingers faltered over a piece I had carefully rehearsed and memorized, one I had felt confident performing. The most devastating part came after the recital. Neither my parents nor my piano teacher offered words of comfort or encouragement. Instead, there was silence, which I interpreted as failure. That moment defined me. I was terrified, carried deep shame, and stayed tucked inside my comfort zone for many years to come.
About 25 years later, during a silent retreat by Lake Michigan, Psalm 34 stirred my heart. I realized I could not fully taste and see the goodness of the Lord while trapped by fear. There I made a promise to step out of my comfort zone each year, choosing to trust God more deeply rather than rely on my own instincts. Over time I discovered gifts and opportunities that had long lain dormant.
I wish I could say that my journey returned me to more than dabbling at my piano. However, I’m proud to report that I sang our song — “More Today Than Yesterday” — to my husband at our 50th anniversary party. I even rewrote one of the verses.
How the Word Works
What makes a psalm different from a poem is that it speaks both to God and about God in the same breath, moving between address and testimony without pausing to explain the shift. I sought the Lord who answered me. That is a report from someone who has encountered the Divine through direct experience.
Susan did not conquer fear all at once. She made a promise, kept it year by year, and one day found herself singing.
A Simple Practice
Susan’s promise was to step out of her comfort zone once each year. This week the invitation is smaller: name one thing you have been avoiding out of fear or habit. You don’t need to do it yet — simply write it down. Bring it into the light and sit with it for a moment.
Sometimes naming our experience is the first step back toward the life that has been waiting.
Susan’s Bio
Sue and her husband, Rich, live in suburban Chicago. A retired Spanish teacher and bilingual school counselor, she now devotes herself to maintaining good health, exploring new places through travel, and reading widely. Her contemplative path began with a CHRP retreat and has continued through years of annual silent retreats. She co-hosts Thursday’s chapel, enjoying the weekly search for readings, music, or videos that might open something in others.
Poems, Parables & Proverbs was a Sunday email series shared with the Still Point community through the summer of 2026. Each week offered a text, a reflection from a member of our community, and a simple practice for the week ahead.