The house lights dimmed, and the concert was about to begin when the mother returned to her seat and discovered that her child was missing. Suddenly, the curtains parted and spotlights focused on the impressive Steinway on stage. In horror, the mother saw her little boy sitting at the keyboard, innocently picking out “Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star.”
At that moment, the great piano master made his entrance, quickly moved to the piano and whispered in the boy’s ear, ” D o n ‘t q u i t . Keep playing.”
Then, leaning over, Paderewski reached down with his left and hand and began filling in a bass part. Soon, his right arm reached around to the other side of the child and he added a running obbligato. Together, the old master and the young novice transformed what could have been a frightening situation into a wonderfully creative experience. The audience was so mesmerized that they could not recall what else the great master played. Only the classic, “Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star.”
Perhaps that is the way it is with God. What we can accomplish on our own is hardly noteworthy. We try our best, but the results are not always graceful flowing music. However, with the hand of the Master, our life’s work can truly be beautiful.
The next time you set out to accomplish great feats, listen carefully. You may hear the voice of the Master, whispering in your ear, “Don’t quit. Keep playing.”
May you feel His arms around you and know that His hands are there, helping you turn your feeble attempts into true masterpieces. Remember, God does not seem to call the equipped, rather, He equips the “called.”
The apostle Paul expressed it like this is Philippians 4:13, “I can do everything through Him who gives me strength.”
Even when things did not seem to be going well, Paul had great confidence because the Master was always with him. As he stated in 2 Corinthians 4:8, “We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed, perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed.”
Life is more accurately measured by the lives you touch than by the things you acquire. So touch someone by passing this little message along.
James Bruster is minister at the Church of Christ.
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