XV
Chopsticks
I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you. - John 14:18
I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you. - John 14:18
Everyone takes their seats, the hustle dies down and a gentle hush is all that can be heard in the great auditorium. The anticipation mounts up as they audience all decked out in their finest clothes wait to hear one of the worlds greats. This piano player is something to be experienced ....he’s an artist.
The grand piano sits there gleaming under the stage lights, alone, waiting for the master pianist to come and make it sing. The concert in New York has been sold out for 6 months, this is a big deal. Towards the front is a lady, sitting next to her is her nine year old son in a tuxedo. He’s been complaining about his piano lessons for some time now and his mother is hoping that hearing the great Ignace Jan Paderewski, the master pianist will motivate him to enjoy his own playing.
However as Mike Yaconelli puts it ‘you can dress a nine-year old in a tuxedo, but he’s still nine!’. This boy is getting impatient and restless in his seat...suddenly he’s up on his feet...making his way towards the stage...
His mother, earlier distracted now realises what is going on, she calls after him but he’s already decided to go for it. Clambering onto the stage in front of the packed auditorium he approaches the great Steinway piano and settles himself onto the seat...the stunned audience watch as the boy starts to tap out his version of ‘chopsticks’ onto the grand piano...
‘Get him off the stage....this is outrageous...where’s the boy’s mother?!’ cries the audience.
The ushers start moving towards the stage just as Paderewski is coming out of his dressing room. Seeing what is happening his grabs his jacket and makes his way onto the stage. The audience has no idea what is going to happen next...slowly...totally unnoticed by boy, Paderewski kneels down by the piano and whispers in the boy’s ear ‘don’t stop...keep on playing...you’re doing great’. And with that he puts his hands around the boy to the piano and starts to accompany him with a concerto based on ‘chopsticks’. The two play together, all the time Paderewski whispering in the boy’s ear ‘don’t stop...you’re doing great!......’
When we look at our lives and the things we strive towards - the tune we play can sometimes look a bit muddled, a bit messy and a bit off key or out of tune. It’s easy to compare ourselves to others who seem to be playing a better tune than us. When I think of God and the wonder of his melody, I wonder just what my little tune on my little piano must sound like! Jesus said he came so that the world might know the Father so that we wouldn’t be orphans, on our own, playing that tune by ourselves. He came so that we could know our true Father by our side as we play out our tune. Today, whether things are going great or you whether you just don’t have a clue and feel you’re way off the page and you feel like giving up – know that God has his arms around you, that he is playing along with you, helping your tune soar to the heavens.
We are not alone. Wherever we are. Whatever’s going on. Even at the hardest times.
The grand piano sits there gleaming under the stage lights, alone, waiting for the master pianist to come and make it sing. The concert in New York has been sold out for 6 months, this is a big deal. Towards the front is a lady, sitting next to her is her nine year old son in a tuxedo. He’s been complaining about his piano lessons for some time now and his mother is hoping that hearing the great Ignace Jan Paderewski, the master pianist will motivate him to enjoy his own playing.
However as Mike Yaconelli puts it ‘you can dress a nine-year old in a tuxedo, but he’s still nine!’. This boy is getting impatient and restless in his seat...suddenly he’s up on his feet...making his way towards the stage...
His mother, earlier distracted now realises what is going on, she calls after him but he’s already decided to go for it. Clambering onto the stage in front of the packed auditorium he approaches the great Steinway piano and settles himself onto the seat...the stunned audience watch as the boy starts to tap out his version of ‘chopsticks’ onto the grand piano...
‘Get him off the stage....this is outrageous...where’s the boy’s mother?!’ cries the audience.
The ushers start moving towards the stage just as Paderewski is coming out of his dressing room. Seeing what is happening his grabs his jacket and makes his way onto the stage. The audience has no idea what is going to happen next...slowly...totally unnoticed by boy, Paderewski kneels down by the piano and whispers in the boy’s ear ‘don’t stop...keep on playing...you’re doing great’. And with that he puts his hands around the boy to the piano and starts to accompany him with a concerto based on ‘chopsticks’. The two play together, all the time Paderewski whispering in the boy’s ear ‘don’t stop...you’re doing great!......’
When we look at our lives and the things we strive towards - the tune we play can sometimes look a bit muddled, a bit messy and a bit off key or out of tune. It’s easy to compare ourselves to others who seem to be playing a better tune than us. When I think of God and the wonder of his melody, I wonder just what my little tune on my little piano must sound like! Jesus said he came so that the world might know the Father so that we wouldn’t be orphans, on our own, playing that tune by ourselves. He came so that we could know our true Father by our side as we play out our tune. Today, whether things are going great or you whether you just don’t have a clue and feel you’re way off the page and you feel like giving up – know that God has his arms around you, that he is playing along with you, helping your tune soar to the heavens.
We are not alone. Wherever we are. Whatever’s going on. Even at the hardest times.
He is whispering like a Father to His child ‘don’t stop...keep playing....you’re doing great’.
No comments:
Post a Comment