I needed a particular illustration to use for an out-of-state speech I was giving. Having searched through every folder of illustrations I own, I finally concluded it must never have been filed. Then, last week when I was thinking about the importance of that story’s message for our lives, a friend, without knowing I wanted it, sent me the story I was looking for by e-mail. What a coincidence, or was it? The story is titled “The Piano.”
“Wishing to encourage her young son’s progress on the piano, a mother took him to a Paderewski concert. After they were seated, the mother spotted a friend in the audience and walked down the aisle to greet her. Meanwhile, the little boy seized the opportunity to explore the wonders of the concert hall and eventually explored his way through the door marked ‘no admittance.’
“When the house lights dimmed and the concert was about to begin, the mother made her way back to her seat and discovered that her son was missing. Suddenly, the curtains parted and spotlights focused on the impressive Steinway piano on the 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 and moved quickly to the piano and whispered into the child’s ear, ‘Don’t quit. Keep playing!’ Then, leaning over, Paderewski reached down with his left hand and began filling in the bass part. Soon, the right arm reached around the other side of the boy and added a running obligato. Together, the old master and the young novice transformed a frightening situation into a wonderfully creative experience. The audience was mesmerized.”
That’s the way it is with God. What we can accomplish on our own is hardly noteworthy. We try our best, but the results aren’t exactly gracefully flowing music. The hand of the master can transform our life’s work into something beautiful. The next time you set out to accomplish great feats, listen carefully. You can hear the voice of God — life’s master — whispering in your ear, “Don’t quit. Keep playing!” Know that his hands are joining yours in playing the concerto of your life.
It’s easy to feel discouraged and give up. Just months before Florence Chadwick successfully swam the English Channel on Aug. 8, 1950, she wasn’t so successful in a practice session. The fog, the cold water and her fear of sharks caused her to give up and climb into the rescue boat. In the boat, her mother and her trainer, who had given her hot chocolate and encouraging words, could then only pull her aboard. Imagine her surprise when the fog lifted to find that she stopped only one-quarter mile from the shoreline. Thereafter when she spoke to audiences, she said, “Whatever your role, your vocation or your competitive sport, don’t stop before the finish line.”
I wonder how many couples gave up too soon on their marriage. If they had hung on a little longer, been willing to change and worked a little harder, they might have found the shoreline just ahead of them. How many people have given up too quickly on a business venture, on a friendship, on a problem, on learning a new skill, on an illness or helping a teenager?
We need to hear God say, “Don’t quit; keep playing!” If we do our best, we can leave the rest to God. Jesus did that despite unbelievable torture and humiliation on his way to the cross, but the Bible tells us, “He steadfastly set his face to go to Jerusalem” (Luke 9:51).
Nell Mohney is a Christian author, motivational speaker and seminar leader. She may be reached at nellwmohney@comcast.net.