THE SITUATION - In Washington , DC , at a Metro Station, on a cold January morning in 2007, this man with a violin played six Bach pieces for about 45 minutes. During that time, approximately 2,000 people went through the station, most of them on their way to work.
After about 3 minutes:
A middle-aged man noticed that there was a musician playing. He slowed his pace and stopped for a few seconds, and then he hurried on to meet his schedule.
About 4 minutes later:
The violinist received his first dollar. A woman threw money in the hat and, without stopping, continued to walk.
At 6 minutes:
A young man leaned against the wall to listen to him, then looked at his watch and started to walk again.
At 10 minutes:
A 3-year old boy stopped, but his mother tugged him along hurriedly. The kid stopped to look at the violinist again, but the mother pushed hard and the child continued to walk, turning his head the whole time. This action was repeated by several other children, but every parent - without exception - forced their children to move on quickly.
At 45 minutes:
The musician played continuously. Only 6 people stopped and listened for a short while. About 20 gave money but continued to walk at their normal pace. The man collected a total of $32.
After 1 hour:
He finished playing and silence took over. No one noticed and no one applauded. There was no recognition at all.
No one knew this, but the violinist was Joshua Bell, one of the greatest musicians in the world. He played one of the most intricate pieces ever written, with a violin worth $3.5 million dollars. Two days before, Joshua Bell sold-out a theater in Boston where the seats averaged $100 each to sit and listen to him play the same music.
This is a true story. Joshua Bell, playing incognito in the D.C. Metro Station, was organized by the Washington Post as part of a social experiment about perception, taste and people's priorities.
This experiment raised several questions:
*In a common-place environment, at an inappropriate hour, do we perceive beauty?
*If so, do we stop to appreciate it?
*Do we recognize talent in an unexpected context?
One possible conclusion reached from this experiment could be this:
If we do not have a moment to stop and listen to one of the best musicians in the world, playing some of the finest music ever written, with one of the most beautiful instruments ever made . . .
How many other things are we missing as we rush through life?
This story grabbed my attention on several counts. I love Bach and I love the violin. To have been in the space and time of such a great musician and within feet of such a beloved instrument is unfathomable to me! But...would I have stopped? Perhaps I would have wanted to because of that love, but I doubt I would have stayed past a brief pause. My mind can get so wrapped up in all I need to get accomplished that I admit to missing out on the joy of just living sometimes. And...I am usually running late, so that also limits the freedom to just stop and smell the roses as I'm rushing by.
This story is not spiritual in its intent, but its resounding in my being takes me there.
Do I recognize beauty in unexpected places? What about the giftings, the talents of those around me? How much joy, how many "God moments", how many opportunities, how much beauty, how much loving on, HOW MUCH TREASURE GOD WOULD LIKE FOR ME TO EXPERIENCE IN MY LIFE IS MISSED AS I RUSH THROUGH my "to do" list, my responsibilities, my chores, and all those other urgent "things" that soak up a good part of my life?
This morning I received an email asking for prayer for a man in our church. He received news last night that his son-in-law had died leaving behind his daughter who is 7 months pregnant with twins.
Praying, I am.
Pausing, I am.
Soaking in blessings, I am.
Being changed, I am.
