Subway Receiving
Do you ever wonder what we miss every day because we're too focused on the next task, the next to-do, the next meeting? I'm wondering about those things more and more. What has God had for me that I've totally missed? What good gifts am I not even prepared to receive?
There was a fantastic article in the Washington Post last Sunday about a brilliant experiment in which "one of the finest classical musicians in the world, playing some of the most elegant music ever written on one of the most valuable violins ever made" stood performing in the metro station in Washington during the morning commute. The question that was asked was "In a banal setting at an inconvenient time, would beauty transcend?" Of course it wouldn't!!!!! Unbelievable beauty against the crushing deadline of that 7:45 water cooler gossip session?
The experts predicted that it would (they're clueless). The experiment was laid out like this...the violinist would play for 45 minutes, in which approximately 1,077 people would walk by. The prediction was he would draw a crowd of at least 75 people and make about $150 in his hat.
Three guesses on what happened...and the first two don't count...
The result? "...seven people stopped what they were doing to hang around and take in the performance, at least for a minute. Twenty-seven gave money, most of them on the run -- for a total of $32 and change. That leaves the 1,070 people who hurried by, oblivious, many only three feet away, few even turning to look."
So here's the kicker (as if I couldn't see this coming)...the only group who always had the capacity to notice beauty out of context were the little ones. "Every single time a child walked past, he or she tried to stop and watch. And every single time, a parent scooted the kid away." And we wonder why we have such a difficult time receving from God. So truth time...
Would I have noticed? Probably not... I'd like to think I would have, but I can't say for sure. I bet most of us would have blown on by, unless you have the eyes of a child.
Embarrassing...
Click on the link above to read the whole article and watch him play...it's worth the 2 minutes of your life.
There was a fantastic article in the Washington Post last Sunday about a brilliant experiment in which "one of the finest classical musicians in the world, playing some of the most elegant music ever written on one of the most valuable violins ever made" stood performing in the metro station in Washington during the morning commute. The question that was asked was "In a banal setting at an inconvenient time, would beauty transcend?" Of course it wouldn't!!!!! Unbelievable beauty against the crushing deadline of that 7:45 water cooler gossip session?
The experts predicted that it would (they're clueless). The experiment was laid out like this...the violinist would play for 45 minutes, in which approximately 1,077 people would walk by. The prediction was he would draw a crowd of at least 75 people and make about $150 in his hat.
Three guesses on what happened...and the first two don't count...
The result? "...seven people stopped what they were doing to hang around and take in the performance, at least for a minute. Twenty-seven gave money, most of them on the run -- for a total of $32 and change. That leaves the 1,070 people who hurried by, oblivious, many only three feet away, few even turning to look."
So here's the kicker (as if I couldn't see this coming)...the only group who always had the capacity to notice beauty out of context were the little ones. "Every single time a child walked past, he or she tried to stop and watch. And every single time, a parent scooted the kid away." And we wonder why we have such a difficult time receving from God. So truth time...
Would I have noticed? Probably not... I'd like to think I would have, but I can't say for sure. I bet most of us would have blown on by, unless you have the eyes of a child.
Embarrassing...
Click on the link above to read the whole article and watch him play...it's worth the 2 minutes of your life.
April 20, 2007 at 7:13 AM
I read this yesterday - incredible. I found it quite hilarious how the article mentioned that he was to play for a sold out crowd that night - where the medicore seats were roughly $100.
We went thru that station when we were in DC. top
April 20, 2007 at 11:07 AM
Fantastic is right.
I've asked similar questions recently about what has been missed all these years. Disappointing in some ways yet so thrilled my eyes are now opening up to the beautiful. And it's these questions that keep me from walking by something like this next time.
Isn't it so great that God will use the Washington Post to speak His truth and not JUST the scriptures.
Either it is a neat coincidence that there has been a resurgence in noticing and redefining beautiful things or God is up to something.
Is it possible to change your comments so that I can still see the post? top
April 21, 2007 at 1:53 PM
Love it, just love it -- of course it points to a truth that I've been lingering on for a while -- how much we have to learn from children. THey are always attracted to beauty! top
April 23, 2007 at 12:50 PM
No offense intended to AP's thoughts, but you MUST read the whole article. What he says is good, but the article is really worth the time.
Even the comments on the article are good.
Call me a sissy if you will, but I was close (close I said) to tears a couple of times. top