And Now, Coming to Center Stage....

The Master’s Hand

Wishing to encourage her young son’s progress on the piano, a mother took the small boy to a concert of the famous pianist, Paderewski. After they were seated, the mother spotted a friend in the audience and walked down the aisle to greet her. Seizing the opportunity to explore the wonders of the concert hall, the little boy rose and eventually explored his way through a door marked “No Admittance.”

When the house lights dimmed and the concert was about to begin, the mother returned to her seat and discovered that her son was missing. Suddenly, the curtains parted and the spotlights focused on the impressive Steinway piano on stage.

In horror, the mother saw her little boy sitting at the keyboard. Innocently, he then began to play "Chopsticks". The crowd reacted with anger, and shouts were heard, "Take the boy away!", "Who is bringing a little boy to a concert?!".
When Paderewski heard the uproar backstage, he grabbed his coat and rushed to the stage. Realizing what was going on, he went to the piano, reaching around the little boy from behind, the master began to improvise a countermelody to “chopsticks.” As the two of them played together, Paderewski kept whispering in the boy's ear, “Keep going. Don't quit, son... don't stop... don't stop.”

Together, the old master and the little boy transformed an embarrassing situation into a
wonderfully creative experience. The audience was mesmerized.

William Shakespeare once said the "whole world is a stage." With every new season, God places us on a new "stage". And like the child in the story, a stage that many may feel is too big for us. A stage that we also may feel is too big. If you are like me, you may feel intimidated by your new “stage”.

This new season is growth from the old season. The new stage is God trusting us with more stewardship. It will also require more from us. Like the little boy, we too are dependent upon God coming along side us in our difficult moments.

Thoughts To Grow On:

The little boy was focused more on the task at hand and the voice of the one standing beside him than the crowd. Remember we are never on the stage alone. He will never leave us nor forsake us. Neither will He put more on us than we can handle. Deut. 31:8

1. The little boy was playing his part, no matter how small. The one bringing it all together was the Master. Put the work in and leave the results to God. 2 Cor. 12:9; 1 Cor. 3:7; John 15:5
2. Someday the curtain will come down and we will all have to leave the stage. Our goal is to hear the Master say "Well done thou good and faithful servant. Enter into the joy of your Lord." Matt. 25:23