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Previous Challenge Entry (Level 3 - Advanced)
Topic: Melody (08/24/06)
The conductor entered the dimly lit room. He bowed to the audience and turned to face the orchestra. Ever so lightly, He tapped His baton on the music stand and then lifted His arms to let everyone know He was ready to begin. I looked in His direction and immediately lifted my viola and laid my chin on it to rest. With my bow in hand I waited for the final command. His arms lowered and the music began.

The violins, cellos, and base concurrently began to play. The woodwinds, brass, and percussion joined in as well. The unique sound enveloped the audience and captivated those who were indifferent. The perfect blend of the instruments echoed as one with the Conductor and the orchestrated masterpiece.

I found myself filled with pride as my fingers flowed flawlessly over the strings of the harp, my mouth was able to form perfectly to the trumpet, and my wrists become one with each beat of the drum.

All of a sudden…everything start to go wrong. The once exquisite sound of the orchestra began to sound completely out of tune. It sounded as if each instrument were playing a different piece of music. “What's wrong?” I look to the Conductor and He continued to lead with the baton in hand, gently flipping each page of the music from His stand, swaying to each note as if it were being performed perfectly. “Can't He hear the mess that I've made of this music?” I purposefully played the wrong notes, yet He closed His eyes and continued to sway back and forth to the melody.

In this setting, I realize that I am the orchestra having many talents – all gifts are from God, the Conductor leading me. Sometimes He requires the sound of a violin and other times that of a tuba. Often He only needs the simplicity of a chime from a triangle but each is important for the sound to be in perfect harmony and rhythm. The goal is to draw His audience in by the beautiful music performed. But occasionally I miss a note, the instrument may not be perfectly tuned, and often, because I have too many instruments to play…I miss a note completely. Yet, this is His masterpiece so when I fail or I’m interrupted, He plays on. Lovingly and gently He woos me back to the music, woos me back to Him.

That's when I realized that when I center my attention on Him as the Leader and me as the follower the music sounds wonderful, even terrific. But when I start thinking that it's by my efforts alone, it sounds horrible, even repulsive. He is the One who fills the voids, provides the talent, sets the melody, and closes each song with sigh of approval and bow for a job well done.
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This article has been read 629 times
Member Comments
Member
Date
Lynda Schultz 
09/02/06
Excellent message and nicely written.
Virginia Gorg
09/03/06
Interesting concept in your comparisons. I like this. (A few notes: everything startED to go wrong ... I lookED to - watch the tenses.) Overall, this is a nicely crafted article with a good message. :)
Marilyn Schnepp 
09/04/06
Nice piece of work here, but very, very complicated. First "I was playing the viola"...then suddenly "playing the harp, the trumpet..."; and by then the reader is lost somewhere in the maize of - Who is playing What?. However, some fine writing and a good message can be found amongst this confusion. Well done.
Dolores Stohler 
09/04/06
I like the way you picture God as the Conducter and His followers as musicians. I knew what was coming when I saw all the "he's" capitalized. Well done but you could have made it longer and included a Biblical quote.