Wishing
to encourage her
young son's progress on
the piano, a mother took her boy to a Paderewski concert.
After they were seated, the mother spotted a
friend in the audience and walked down the aisle to greet her.
Seizing
the
opportunity to explore the wonders of the concert hall, the little
boy rose and eventually explored his way through a door marked "NO
ADMITTANCE." When the house lights
dimmed and the concert was about to begin, the mother returned to her
seat and
discovered that the 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, "Don't quit. Keep playing."
Then,
leaning over, Paderewski reached down with his left
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 a frightening situation into a wonderfully
creative experience. The audience was
mesmerized.
That's
the way it is in life. What
we
can accomplish on our own is hardly noteworthy. We
try our best, but the results aren't exactly graceful flowing
music. But when we trust in the hands
of a Greater Power, our life's work truly can be beautiful.
Next
time you set out to accomplish great feats, listen
carefully. You can hear the voice of the
Master, whispering in
your ear, "Don't quit. Keep playing."
