| The Beauty of Self Control |
Chapter 4 |
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The very thing Jesus Christ wants to do for us is to be the keeper of our lives as they pass through the world with its storms and dangers. We do not know what we lose when we keep our lives out of the hands of Christ. No other can make of us what he could make. No other can bring out the powers and possibilities of our being as he can. Our lives are like instruments of music. They have marvelous capacities, but only one who has the skill can bring out the music. Only one who understands our lives, with all their strange powers, can call out their possibilities. There is a story of an organist in one of the cities of Germany, who one day refused to permit a visitor to play upon his organ. The visitor begged to be allowed at least to put his hands upon the keys and play a few notes, and the old man reluctantly consented. The moment the stranger began to play, the organ gave forth such music as it never had given forth before. The custodian was amazed, recognizing the fact that a master was at his keys. When he asked who it was, the player answered, “I am Mendelssohn.” “And I refuse you permission to play upon my organ!” the old man said, in grief and self reproach.
It is said that one day, many years ago, there was an auction in London which was attended by distinguished people. Among other things offered for sale was a Cremona violin, more than a hundred years old. It was reputed to be a Stradivarius. The auctioneer raised the violin and held it gently, almost reverently, as he told its story and spoke of its wonderful qualities. Then he gave it to a musician who was present, asking him to play upon it. The man played as well as he could, but the violin in his hands failed to win enthusiasm from the audience.
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