Column by Jonathan Nagy
The phrase “pulling out all the stops” has been used as a colloquial phrase for centuries. Simply explained, the phrase means to “give it everything you have,” “make every conceivable effort,” or “finish the task through to the end.” To explain a little further though in layman’s terms, this phrase is in reference to a pipe organ. Stops on a pipe organ regulate which sets of pipes are used at a given time. Pipes are arranged in sets called ranks according to type and quality of sound. In essence, each rank corresponds with a note on the keyboard or pedalboard. The stops control which pipes the air flows through so that when a key or pedal is played, certain sounds are released. To “pull out all of the stops,” which, by the way, is one of my favorite things to do, means that air flows through every rank and when the organ is played, the powerful blast of unfiltered sound fills the church like the sound of a choir of angels leading a grand parade into heaven!
As illustrated, this simple phrase has anything but a simple backstory or explanation. Truthfully, it is even more complicated than I explained. There are literally thousands of moving and working parts inside of an organ, all of which have to function correctly for the desired sounds to emulate from the pipes. When everything works as intended, the echoes of angelic hymns resonate in our ears, but when something isn’t operating appropriately, well, let’s just say the noises are anything but pleasing! So much planning and execution goes in to the design and assembly of these wonderful instruments. Pulling out all of the stops is a grand way to showcase the abilities of these creations.
The Bible is full of stories and events that illustrate detailed preparations and construction. Noah turned a pile of gopherwood into a many cubit-sized ark. The Israelites carefully planned the Exodus out of Egypt, following the orders Moses relayed to them from God down to the very last detail. Solomon laid out the plan for the great temple in Jerusalem, and (almost) every detail of the Wedding at Cana was arranged. Each event was meticulously constructed, but in each case, there was something missing. Noah needed the flood promised by God to prove his case, the Israelites needed God to lead them through desert, Solomon needed his kingdom to be protected by God to continue construction, and the couple at Cana needed Jesus to save the day with their great underestimation of how much wine they needed.
Moral of the story? We can’t do it all. We need God in every aspect of our lives! I have often heard, and I myself have been guilty of saying at times, that we are too busy to take time to pray. From the moment we wake up until we lay our heads on our pillows again, life seems to be a constant flurry of activity. Work, family, housework, yardwork, relationships, leisure time, and other obligations fill our moments. I have often found that when I have a very busy day and accomplish much, there is a feeling that something is missing. That feeling is when I did not take time for God. Some will say that there isn’t time for good prayer, but I content that if one makes time for deliberate prayer, then what develops is plenty of time for everything else.
In the morning, instead of turning on the television to watch the dreadful news, take some time of silence in prayer to thank God for another day. Perhaps recite the rosary or other favorite prayers. Maybe even quietly sing or reflect on a favorite hymn. On the ride to work or school, instead of listening to today’s tunes, tune into a religious station or the Hallow App for some reflection and holy music. Make the time for meal prayers. Intentionally set aside time for devotional reading and Eucharistic Adoration. This can be accomplished, and it can fill your life with renewal and a sense of purpose. As we see time and time again in the Bible and in the stories of the lives of our favorite saints, prayer matters!
This time of the year is full of preparation for many. Parents and children have been back to school shopping for outfits and all of the best school supplies. Teachers have decorated their classrooms and are crafting meaningful lessons in their subject areas. All other school staff is prepping their specific areas, from the office staff, to maintenance, the kitchen, and more. After being appointed Principal at Bishop Carroll Catholic High School, I personally find myself making even more preparations this year than I am used to doing. The preparations can be exciting but at the same time extremely overwhelming. The answer? Of course, it is prayer. Prayer has healing properties that calm us. Praying with others brings us closer to God, for as He said, “Where two or three are gathered in my Name, there am I.” Looking to God for his guidance will bring us through anything, perhaps not in the way we imagined, but through what is perfect in the mind of our Father.
In a Catholic school, especially at Bishop Carroll, we make prayer a priority. We are unapologetically Catholic, and every moment of every day is guided by God. We have all-school daily prayer, prayer before every class, prayer at lunch, weekly devotional prayer in religion class, regular celebration of Mass and Reconciliation, and prayer before and after sporting events. It is wonderful when I witness students leading themselves and others in prayer without any prompting. God is the way we can get the most out of every single day, and through consistent prayer, we can make sure He is with us every step of the way.
When the first pipe organ was built in a Catholic church hundreds of years ago, which, remember, did not have the aid of electricity to flow the air but a human manually pumping it in, I’m sure the builder said a prayer before giving it a test run. We should be praying before every aspect of our lives, whether a drive, a meal, a test, a difficult meeting, or even laundry and gardening. It may seem silly to say a prayer thanking God for endless piles of laundry, but it is a reminder to us that we have clothes and the ability to wash them when so many others do not.
Every day of our lives is like each note that is emitted from an organ. We have made the plans and preparations to the best of our abilities, but in the end, we have to trust that what becomes of that day is good. Again, this is where God comes in. Keeping Him close means that we don’t have to worry or wonder how things will turn out. We know He is already there on the other side. We don’t need to worry. God is in control. He is our refuge, our strength, and our rock. He loves us unconditionally and only wants us to be joyous.
Each day that we draw closer to God is like opening up another stop on the organ. A new and glorious sound is added to the melodic symphony that is life. We keep building to the crescendo where we are able to pull out all the stops. Looking backward on our lives, we can see where we added a new note, a new chord, or a new melody. We may not realize it as we go along, but in deep reflection and prayer, we can see that it was all through His ultimate design. We all make mistakes, but by relying on God, those mistakes become lessons which lead us closer to Him.
As it is written in 1 John, “To know God is to love God.” Spend time in prayer with God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, the Blessed Mother, and all the remarkable saints who want to help us and intercede for us. The more we get to know God, the more we come to rely on Him and look forward to our time with Him. If deep and reflective prayer is new to you, start small. Just like one can’t be expected to know how to play a pipe organ the first time they sit down at it, we can’t be expected to spend large amounts of time in prayer if we haven’t built up to it and practice. By building a little more each day, one will ultimately get to the point where one realizes that everything in life is doable with the help of God. Understanding and accepting that point is the grand finale, where all of the stops are pulled!
I want to take minute to wish everyone a prayerful, happy, and productive school year. Know that all students, teachers, principals, and school staff are in my daily prayers. Encourage one another, be kind, and do everything in the Name of Jesus Christ!
Jonathan Nagy, M.Ed., is the Principal of Bishop Carroll Catholic High School in Ebensburg and the Music Director at the Basilica of Saint Michael the Archangel in Loretto.
