He really tried. He would crouch down during low notes and jump up with a shout to match a quicker beat, yet still failed to properly lead the orchestra. Maybe it was because he sometimes jumped too soon, causing the musicians to seek direction from the first violinist. Or perhaps it was the time he instructed the orchestra to skip a passage, forgot his own instruction, and when they didn’t play it, stopped them and shouted, “Stop! Wrong! That will not do! Again! Again!”
Multi-tasking didn’t work, either. His attempt to conduct while playing the piano resulted in candles flying off of the piano and a choirboy being thrown to the ground. Finally, he laid down his ambitions of conducting an orchestra, remained seated at the piano and focused on composing. The result of Ludwig van Beethoven’s concentrated effort produced hundreds of pieces of music still enjoyed today.
A little focus is a powerful
thing. Ask the photographer adjusting her lens to bring clarity to a point of interest. Or the surgeon carefully wielding a laser. Yes, focus is important. It’s why Drew Brees, who would make any of the thousands of fans surrounding him happy to catch his thrown football, narrows his vision to find the hands of the teammate positioned for victory.
So what about us? What do these examples have to do with our lives? I don’t know about you, but I’m walking away from this with two thoughts, and the first one is about finding the task upon which I should devote my attention.
I believe it’s our responsibility to use the gifts God has placed in us to the best of our ability. What if we placed a football in the surgeon’s hand, a laser in Beethoven’s, Brees behind the camera and the photographer at the piano? What is the assignment you know you are called by God to complete? Now, focus on that.
I want to learn from the example of the trainer who puts blinders on the horse, blocking out distractions, allowing the horse’s eyes to look only to the race ahead.
Do you see your finish line? Now run until you cross it.
Ronny may be reached at rmichel@rtconline.com.