I’d like to fast forward forty-six years for this blog because of the significance of an event a week or so ago that has had a definite impact on my life … an impact in the sense of how it has changed my perspective on what is really important and the changes I need to make in my life even at this late date. Two weeks ago I had a TIA (mini-stroke) that landed me in the hospital for three days. It wasn’t serious … no brain damage … just a real wake-up call. These kinds of strokes can be pre-cursors to future more debilitating or life threatening ones. I, as was everyone who knows me, was taken totally by surprise. I was advised by my doctors to make some life-style changes … reduce stress, lower blood pressure by losing weight, exercising more, using less salt, etc. etc. You know the drill. These things I am starting to do. But the most important thing I plan to do is to look at my world through different eyes.
I was inspired by the following true story that appeared in our little local newspaper, The Loop:
“On a cold January morning in 2007, in a corner of the Washington DC Metro station, a young violinist took up his instrument and began to play. Just like any other street musician, he opened his violin case in hopes of tips. He played six Bach pieces for about 45 minutes and during that time, approximately 2,000 People went through the station. Six people stopped to linger and listen for a while. About 20 gave him money but continued to walk at their normal pace. Several children stopped to listen, but in every instance, the parent pushed the child to move on. For his morning concert, the musician collected $32. After the hour was over, the young man stopped and silence took over. No one noticed. No one applauded. Unbeknownst to the DC Metro patrons, the violinist was Joshua Bell, one of the finest musicians in the world. He played one of the most intricate pieces ever written on a violin worth $3.5 million dollars. Two days before, Joshua Bell had sold out a theater in Boston where the seats averaged $100. (If you’ve ever seen the movie, The Red Violin, Bell is the soloist of the soundtrack. He was only 18 at the time!) Joshua Bell playing incognito in the Metro station was organized by the Washington Post as part of a social experiment about perception, taste and people’s priorities. The question raised: in a common place environment at an inappropriate hour, do we perceive beauty? Do we stop to appreciate it? “
This experiment reminds me of the trite proverb: “stop and smell the roses”. But “over-used” as that statement might be, it has a whole new meaning to me. I have come to realize how fragile our individual mortality is. None of us can know when or how our Father will call us home, and when we face our maker I can’t help but wonder if one of the questions He may ask us is, “Did you take time to appreciate and enjoy the beauty of all the things I provided to make your journey on earth more peaceful?” I know now that I will be able to answer, “Yes! Thank you!”
