Friday, January 28, 2005
Was reminded again of this story at the BCE prayer/meeting last night...here's the shortened version...
A young piano prodigy was playing at a well-known concert in a famous theatre, the youngest ever to play there. When he first stepped onto the stage, everyone was shocked at his youth and doubted his ability.
But when he sat down and his fingers touched the ivories, all questions were removed from the audiences' minds - he played with such talent and beauty that one could only wonder at the marvel of his emotions in the music! The sound travelled far, soft and loud, intense and smooth, happy and sad, till the audience was mesmerized in their seats, not one able to speak or move - such was the greatness of his music.
After his piece had finished, he stood up and walked to the front of the stage. The audience applauded exuberantly! The sound of claps and catcalls were so loud that it was deafening, and the audience showed no signs of stopping!
The young pianist however, just stood there, emotionless. Eyes angled slightly upward, he simply stood there. The joy that one would normally feel at this audulation was not evident in the youth. He stood there...until a man in the upper circle seats made a slight, almost inperceiveable nod of the head.
Then he smiled, and bowed low to the audience's applause.
All the praises of the audience meant nothing to him, it mattered not. He sought the approval of the man in the upper circle seat - his Teacher. Till that approval was gained, the audience's applause were mere passing sounds which came and went.
"the stage is an altar, God must be in the centre, and we play for..
...The Audience of One."
simply jon.pondered @ 8:21 am
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