Jesus Christ
alluded to a childlike attitude of openness in order to describe the necessary
conditions for living the abundant life and entering into the Kingdom of
Heaven. (Luke 18:17)
Sometime ago, The
Washington Post conducted a fascinating social experiment at a Washington D.C.
Metro Station. It was designed to evaluate people’s priorities, i.e. the
degree to which we focus on the moment (on our surroundings) due to the harried
and frenzied state of mind that is a disconcerting byproduct of contemporary
society.
THE
SCENE: Washington D.C. Metro Station on a cold January
morning. A skillful musician played six Bach pieces for about an hour.
During that time, approximately two thousand people passed by, most of
them on their way to work.
AFTER 3 MINUTES: A middle-aged man noticed there was a musician playing. He slowed his pace and stopped for a few seconds and then hurried to continue his busy schedule.
AFTER 4 MINUTES: The violinist received his first dollar. A woman threw the money in the till and, without stopping, continued to walk.
AFTER 6 MINUTES: A young man leaned against the wall to listen, then looked at his watch and started to walk again.
AFTER 10 MINUTES: A 3-year-old boy stopped, but his mother tugged him along hurriedly, as the child stared at the violinist. Finally the mother pushed hard and the child continued to walk, turning his head all the time. Several other children repeated this action. Every parent, without exception, forced them to move on.
AFTER 45 MINUTES: The musician continued to play. Only 6 people stopped and stayed for a while.
About 20 people dropped money but continued to walk in their normal pace. In total, he collected 32 dollars.
AFTER 60 MINUTES: The musician finished playing and silence took over. No one noticed; no one applauded; nor was there recognition of any kind.
No passerby knew that the violinist was Joshua Bell, a world-renowned violinist. That morning, he had played one of the most intricate pieces ever written, and he had done so with a violin worth $3.5 million dollars.
Two days before, Joshua Bell sold out a theater in Boston where the average ticket cost 100 dollars.
This is a true story.
AFTER 3 MINUTES: A middle-aged man noticed there was a musician playing. He slowed his pace and stopped for a few seconds and then hurried to continue his busy schedule.
AFTER 4 MINUTES: The violinist received his first dollar. A woman threw the money in the till and, without stopping, continued to walk.
AFTER 6 MINUTES: A young man leaned against the wall to listen, then looked at his watch and started to walk again.
AFTER 10 MINUTES: A 3-year-old boy stopped, but his mother tugged him along hurriedly, as the child stared at the violinist. Finally the mother pushed hard and the child continued to walk, turning his head all the time. Several other children repeated this action. Every parent, without exception, forced them to move on.
AFTER 45 MINUTES: The musician continued to play. Only 6 people stopped and stayed for a while.
About 20 people dropped money but continued to walk in their normal pace. In total, he collected 32 dollars.
AFTER 60 MINUTES: The musician finished playing and silence took over. No one noticed; no one applauded; nor was there recognition of any kind.
No passerby knew that the violinist was Joshua Bell, a world-renowned violinist. That morning, he had played one of the most intricate pieces ever written, and he had done so with a violin worth $3.5 million dollars.
Two days before, Joshua Bell sold out a theater in Boston where the average ticket cost 100 dollars.
This is a true story.
Are you paying
attention to your life? Hopefully, we will never become so mesmerized
by OUR AGENDAS or so
absorbed in our anticipation of THE
NEXT that we fail to perceive and appreciate THE NOW.
Sisters and brothers,
be continually blessed, and please (above all else) MAKE SURE YOU ARE READY TO
MEET OUR SOON COMING KING. Maranatha!
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