And calling to Him a child, He put him in the midst of them, and said, “Truly I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever humbles himself like this child, he is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.” Matthew 18:2-4
There is a beautiful story that can be found in many places on the internet about an incident in the life of the most famous concert pianist in Poland, Ignace Paderewski. While there is some dispute as to whether this is just a story or whether it actually happened, we know that Paderewski was a real person because he eventually became the Prime Minister of Poland. Here is the story:
A mother took her small child to a concert by Paderewski to expose him to the talent of the great pianist. She hoped as she did to encourage her son in his piano lessons, which he had just begun. They arrived early at the concert and were seated near the front. Standing alone on the stage was a marvelous Steinway grand piano. As they waited for the concert to begin, the mother entered into a conversation with the people beside her. Eventually, eight o’clock came, and the light began to dim. Everyone turned their attention to the stage and the grand piano. The mother looked up and was suddenly horrified. Her son was sitting at the piano and banging out with one little finger, “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star.” “Oh no”, she thought, “How am I going to get him down?”
As she began to make her way to the platform, Ignace Paderewski himself appeared on stage. He went over and sat down beside the child. He whispered in the child’s ear, “Don’t quit; keep playing!” As the little boy continued to play, Paderewski reached down with his left hand and began to fill in the bass part. Then with his arm around the little boy, he added a running obbligato. Together, the old master and the young novice had the crowd mesmerized.
There are lots of times in life when we might feel like the little boy in this story. We wonder if we have any talent or we think what we know is inconsequential or has no meaning. We wonder what we have to offer the world or what talent we have that God can possibly use. Just remember as you sit there on the piano bench, tapping out your little song, that God, the Master of all, surrounds you with His love, and whispers softly in your ear, “Don’t quit, keep playing, together we can make a masterpiece.”
There are lots of times in life when we might feel like the mom in this story. We wonder if our child has any talent or whether what our child has to offer the world will be of any consequence whatsoever. While we probably won’t tell our child to “quit playing”, we’ll secretly think “my child has no talent.”
And sometimes we will actually play the role of the great Paderewski. We will come upon the person (it could be a child or an adult) who is offering something as best as they can. That something might be very simple, it might even be the cause of snickering because of its simplicity. Will we join the crowd snickering? Or will we go beside this person, as Paderewski did with the child, and encourage them to keep playing and not quit? Can we take what talent they have and help make it a masterpiece?
Think about that boy for a minute. Imagine what joy he must have had, to be on stage with a famous pianist, in front of a crowd a rapt attention. What a humble gesture for the maestro to give the spotlight to someone else. In doing so, he not only gave that child a moment he’d never forget, but probably increased both his love for music and his confidence in himself. It is really a joy to give someone else the spotlight.
When we offer something to God, and especially when we offer it in a pure and innocent way, the way that this child did in the story, God takes what we do and can create a masterpiece with it. His masterpieces are not necessarily outwardly beautiful or materially expensive. His masterpieces, however, have the most lasting value and the greatest inner beauty.
Lord, thank You for whatever talent I have, and whatever good I am able to bring into the world. Help me to always see the good in others. Help me to find value in the gifts and talents of others. Give me the wisdom to see masterpieces in others, especially in times when the crowds see mediocrity. Give me the confidence to offer my talents, always reflection Your glory in my offering of them. Amen.
Look for opportunities to encourage someone by giving them the spotlight!
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The Revised Standard Version of the Bible is copyrighted 1946, 1952, 1971, and 1973 by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the U.S.A. and used by permission. From the Online Chapel of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America.
