Opportunity of a Lifetime
Have you guys seen this? It’s a clip of an experiment The Washington Post did with Joshua Bell, the world’s best violin player. They put him in a Washington DC Metro stop to work his musical magic. Would people stop and listen to the world’s best violin player who’s playing one of the world’s best violins (his violin was made in 1730 and cost $3.5 million)?
Watch this…
1,097 people walking past him and only a handful stop to listen. They are completely ignoring a once in a lifetime opportunity to hear this guy.
Why didn’t they stop to listen?
They were busy.
They were distracted.
They had something important to go to…probably a t.v. show to watch, a text message to read, a newspaper to browse. You know something ‘urgent’… something ‘important.’
They had the opportunity to pause and hear one of the world’s most amazing musicians and they opted to drown it out with the noise of their life.
This video was so convicting to me. Each and every day the God of the universe wants me to listen to Him, tune into Him, walk with Him and yet I often choose to drown Him out with the noise of the world. I’m missing out on the opportunity of a lifetime.
How about you? Do you struggle with this?
Have you heard about *The Soloist*. Homeless man who had the gift of music. It’s been made into a movie that will be out in April. There’s a link on my site with the movie trailor.
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All the time. There’s always something clamoring for attention. Most of it not deserving the importance that we give it. Probably one of the instructions we’re given from the Word that we ignore the most is to “Be still and know that I am God”. Thanks for the reminder.
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When I saw that I definitely had a wide range of emotions. I wanted to get mad at the people for being so ignorant, and then I realized how foolish I would be also. I probably would appreciate the beautiful music and acknowledge it was going on, but who has a schedule that allows for flexibility to stop? I was sad because I know I make myself too scheduled (even if it’s good things like coffee with a friend) to stop and appreciate beauty. Good challenge.
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This is a powerful illustration of many things but the one I find most interesting is when one finally decided to stop and listen then others thought it must be worthwhile to listen to. Even more interesting than that is she recognized him and that is why i think she listened so long.
Thanks – I will ponder that a while.
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Because of my love for music, I probably wouldn’t have missed THIS, but yes, I miss out on great things I’m certain -all because I’m too busy and distracted.
Greatness is all around us. No matter where we are.
And yes, THE GOD OF THE UNIVERSE is constantly “playing our song” and we hurredly brush by Him for “more important things”.
Sad, but true.
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Wow. I struggle with this all the time, all the time.
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Really great post. How much we oftentimes miss…
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Great analogy! Reminds me of all the time I have walked on past musicians on the street, playing their instruments for money. (they are everywhere in Tel Aviv). You get so accustomed to hearing them play each day that you stop taking time to listen to them. Sooooo true about our walk with God also. We get accustomed to knowing He is here with us that we stop taking time to listen…..at least that is a weakness that I have to work on. Thanks for the reminder today!!!
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Absolutely. It happens in our relationship with Jesus, friends, spouse, children. How many opportunities has God arranged that I have missed.
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So good Pete. wow! “Each and every day the God of the universe wants me to listen to Him, tune into Him, walk with Him and yet I often choose to drown Him out with the noise of the world. I’m missing out on the opportunity of a lifetime.” enough said!
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I’m guilty of this all too often actually. It’s sad when you look back and wonder what happened to the day or week or month, etc… it’s sadder yet when you look back and realize that you didn’t take time for the most important things… like God! It seems trite to say that life gets in the way, but it seems like it does and it takes a lot of effort to priritize and concentrate on what is REALLY important. I had seen this clip and story before but it’s a great analogy and should serve to remind us all of making sure we take time in life for the important things.
Very convicting. A great reminder of the main reason we were created. To worship God.
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Great post (despite me feeling convicted now!). Even if the guy had put a sign out saying “I’m the world’s greatest violin player,” I wonder if that would have changed anything. It also makes me wonder how many opportunities I’ve missed just this past week to more fully encounter God.
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Hi Pete, I know where you are coming from and I know I am be one of those walking by.
On the other hand, this thought came to my mind. I guess the violinist chose the wrong target audience. If these people are not interested in music, even the best violinist will not stop them from their daily routine.
What do you think?
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@David, could be true. However, I see it a little different. I could really care less about the violin but if I’m not in a rush I think I could have recognized there was something different about this guy.
I bet some of them knew this guy or were maybe even familiar with his music but just missed it because they were so focused on “their agenda”.
I’m not sure their “not interested” in music. I just think they think they had more important things to listen to in that moment.
Keep analyzing though. I like the way you’re thinking.
If they stop and listen some or most will feel obligated to give to him. Of course a 25 cent concert by this guy is a steal.
But it is also a steal of a deal of what God is offering. Eternal life and life to the full for our attention, obedience and love.
I like your analogy video Pete.
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i remember seeing this a while back. i have to agree with you and i’m completely guilty of it. i’m usually in a rush to get from A to B (most of the time with a kid in tow) that I forget to do the simplist of things like give a smile to the cashier at walmart. God’s really been working with me on this the past year or so. And I do get so caught up in things that I don’t stop to “see” and listen for God in the everyday things around me.
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You related this experiment to our walks with God, and then asked if we ever struggle with treating God like the people treated the violin player. My answer would have to be a loud, “YES!” In Exuma one night, we had a time of the team members encouraging each other and building each other up. Most everyone who mentioned me said that they looked up to/respected how much time I spend in the Word. It was really, really hard to hear that because I always struggle with that, with making time for God. I know it should be the other way around–God first, and make time for everything else. Since we’ve gotten back, I’ve had SO much to do; things to catch up on from being away for a week. In attempting to catch up, I’ve fallen into the mindset of “When time is crunched, my God-time is the first to go.” Not “my facebook time is the first to go,” or anything like that–my God time is the first to go. It frustrates me. I’m reminded of the verse where Paul says that what he wants to do, he can’t, but what he knows is wrong and wants to stop, he keeps doing those things.
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Wow, great find Pete. I’m reading Wild Goose Chase right now and it Mark Batterson talks about a study some Princeton researchers to recreate the parable of the good samaritan with seminary students who were about to go preach on the good samaritan. Conclusion: the primary factor in whether they stopped to help the man or not was whether you told them they were late for where ir sermon. Definitely makes you think about the business of our lives and what we will stop to appreciate, how atuned we are to the spirit and his movements in our life and whether we will follow those movements at the expense of our business.
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Wow, I should have proofread that
Chris Sullivan’s last blog post..Why I ‘I Matter Too’
I love when people play at Metro Stops! Unfortunatly some of us can’t stop and listen, even when we wanted it.
This is something I struggle with on a daily basis in one way or another. My mind is somewhere else 98% of the time.
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Pete…great, great stuff today. This was my life until 3 years ago. I wouldn’t ever wish tragedy on anyone, but it seems when you go through something that is hard and almost kills you, then you begin to appreciate the little things more and recognize God in things that He has been in all along. I wish it didn’t take crashing and burning to figure that out, but it did for me. Hopefully, people will read what you wrote today and decide to live differently before they have missed out on so much.
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trying
training
working
hoping
praying
to not ….not any longer anyway…..
I don’t rush as much as I used to. I think I’ve been influenced by the writings of Parker Palmer, Richard Foster, Henri Nouwen, and Richard Rohr. These contemplatives have encouraged me to slow down. But people (at least in the U.S.) are conditioned to believe that slowing down means missing opportunities and that being still is being lazy or unproductive.
Scripture does speak of a narrow gate–one which I think stands in stark contrast to the grandiose structures we are culturally conditioned to admire, to seek, to construct, and to worship. A narrow gate can accomodate a handful of people quite nicely. But in our world, a “handful” of anything is not enough.
One temptation for the modern church is that we, as a whole, tend to veer away from the simplicity and intent of God’s original gate design and His contentment with the “handful.” We are taught that God wants us to improve things, to make things bigger, to embellish the gate, etc.
We really are not much different than the Israelites who were given stone tablets from the very heart/hand of God, but weren’t content. Instead, they melted down their jewelry (They considered it sacrificial giving.), used “ingenuity and images relevant to the groups around them” (Those people worshipped large statues of bulls.), and ended up worshipping “a little bit of bull” themselves instead of bowing before the Creator of the Universe. Sometimes I wonder if, when God looks down at us, He just shakes His head in frustation and weariness.
Life happens so fast, and you’d think that when you are in ministry (either vocational or volunteer) you’d remember to stop and pay attention to the Person for whom we do all this. But often we are captured by the Tyranny of the Urgent and completely miss the beauty in the moment. Thanks for posting this. Beautiful.
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Ok, yes, great point. BUT, unless one is familiar with this musician or style of music, how would most people know that he is the world’s best or that his instrument cost that much? Was there a sign posted? Do you realize how many random musicians play in public places like this? Who’s to say that none of those people appreciated it?? Are you making that assumption because at that moment in time, yes, they did have a Dr’s appt to get to, or a child to pick up from daycare vs. sitting and listening to someone they don’t know?
Frankly, we can say the same for all of us who simply drive by the beautiful bloomed trees right now! Are we going to pull over and stare at them? After all, they only last a few days and happen only once a year.
When I travel to NYC or SF, I see that stuff all the time and I DO appreciate regardless of whether I am able to stop for any length of time. Unless I happened to know of someone’s celebrated status or accomplishments, in most cases, I would have no way of knowing that it was “a once in a lifetime opportunity” or simply a very talented person providing entertainment and hoping for a few tips.
Not to negate your point – which, as always, is very valid Pete!
Very true Paula. I think they thought he was so talented, so different than what most people would ever hear in such a place, that people would stop and listen.
The question I’m wondering is if they would have taken a moment to slow down would they have known there was something different about this dude.
Who knows?
It didn’t look like very many coins were dropped in his violin case — sad. I don’t live in an area where street musicians are seen, but I did make a decision years ago always to put coins in the cans of Salvation Army workers when given the opportunity. I think we can all spare a few coins, and actually, far more than that.
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Now I see why I return to your blog each day… thanks.
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Wow! Great stuff. If you think about the things we hate to miss and how badly we fight to not miss them and compare that with how we fight not to miss God…..OUCH!
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Couple thoughts based on what others have said:
1) In DC, I am sure that there are many, many musicians that play in public arenas. An expert on an expensive violin is probably not going to be enough different to cause most of the people to pause any more than they would for the other musicians. If someone were ‘in tune’ with the exceptional quality of the artistry on display, I am sure they would stop and listen.
2) Now take a person who grabs some broken bits of bottles, pots, and pans and let him beat on them in a form of music and they will gather a crowd. The crowd will stop because there is something unusual about this artist – even if they are nowhere near the ability of the finest musicians in the world.
Applying a spiritual lesson to these points, we could surmise that its not only our schedules that cause us to miss the true genius but our lack of recognizing that genius when it is presented so matter-of-factly in front of us. To point, we are more apt to pause and wonder over the poorer substitute for true genius because it seems unusual and new.
Isn’t that how the adversary works?
“Creation? Ahh..forget that… you can get that any where. Look at this new thing that I have created for your enjoyment.”
“And if that doesn’t fulfill you, I have all these other things to entertain you… after all, your time is precious and it should be used to fulfill your desires. You deserve no less.”
“Get yours because everybody else is getting theirs. Don’t be left out.”
I guess the question I am asking is: We like to think we are in the know, but really, are we in tune enough to recognize the difference between the REAL thing and the IMPOSTER?
Tony York’s last blog post..On teaching Missions
Joshua Bell has an AMAZING song called “Short Trip Home”….you really need to download it off itunes.
Saw this video several months ago, and I just could not get over the idea that hardly anyone could spare the time to listen to his music. Along the lines of what you said, one of my favorite quotes of all time is, “People see God all the time; they just don’t recognize Him. –Pearl Bailey”
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Tony York, your comments always resonate with me. Do you still have a blog?
Why, yes you do! :^)
@Pete, I just wanted to mention, for anyone who is trying to do the Matthew read-along this month, that you can get the Bible online. Here is a link for “The Message” Bible, but I am sure there are other versions avail. online as well:
http://www.biblegateway.com/versions/?action=getVersionInfo&vid=65
Just thought it might make it easier for those like me who are on the computer a lot and might want to just pop over there and read up while they are thinking of it!
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@ttm, I always love reading Tony’s comments. They’re often better than the actual post. I’m no kidding either!
Just watched the video and I started wondering this…
“What was Joshua thinking when one of the passersby did bend over long enough to throw a few coins into his violin case?”
I mean, WOW, think about it. This guy is AMAZING on the violin… he has probably been on some big stages in the world playing for who knows… and now he is playing in a public atrium where most of the people just ignore him…. but is it any better when someone slows down just enough to throw in a few ‘coppers’ before moving on? I mean, really? Did they throw that penance in the case because they appreciated the artistry or because they felt that was the expected or acceptable thing to do?
Sounds like another sermon… better stop.
Tony York’s last blog post..On teaching Missions
I often let the noise or business of my life drown out God. I”m working on that.
Oh! Pete I watch you on the podcast on crosspoint.tv and I enjoy it. I watched all of the paralyzed series and so much of what you spoke about I related to and now I’m watching the back seat jesus series and once again it relates to me.
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I’m sorry… What?
Sort of kidding. But for me, if someone were to stop and listen to me BECAUSE I was the best in my field, it would mean very little to me. If someone were to stop and listen because my music stirred something within them – that would compell me to play on. I would much prefer an audience of one over an audience of a thousand cheering fans whose only loyalty was to what everyone else liked. But I’m kind of a freak that way.
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another great post Pete… I think we allow so much music/noise/stuff in to our lives, that we miss that God is among us speaking to us.
@Tony York, Preach it baby!
Tony York is the man. What a great way to look at it. As per usual with him.
Pete: Great post!
Tony York: Thanks for making it even better!
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First, let me say that I appreciate Pete… for the man he is and for the man of God that he continues to strive to be. Its why I keep coming back to his blog. He makes me think and he is gracious in that he allows us to join his journey.
Recently, I was listening to Ravi Zacharias preach on Worship… at to my last thought on what Mr. Bell would think about the coins dropped in his case, I would point to the chapter that Ravi preached from…. Malachi chapter 1.
Tony York’s last blog post..On teaching Missions
I would beat him up, steal his violin, and sell it!
Seriously though…Tony’s comment…great!
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I loved this video…saw it a while back and I have several different emotions about it.
How blind are we to the truly beautiful things in life simply because they are not what we might have imagined?
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Wow. This is sobering. I get in a bubble some days. Doing one thing and my mind is far far away. I know I miss so much.
Good reminder. slow down, live in the moment.
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Everyday. every single day. Thanks man.
~NjS
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Yes I have seen that video before. It is amazing and what you said about God is so true…although He’s not just standing there is he, He’s walking with us. haha But yes. it is so easy to ignore those people’s voices in our lives that are most important, isn’t it?!?!?
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Someone might have hit on this already but… the comparison of us being too busy to listen is real and convicting but I also wonder about the fact that many might have passed by because they see a guy playing music in a place like that and immediately ASSUME he is a homeless guy or street musician just playing in hopes someone will put a dollar in his bucket.
A panhandler. Like pulling up at the street corner where a homeless guy has a sign saying “Will work for food.” Easier to look away rather than make eye contact with the guy and feel convicted for not giving him anything (not that that’s ever happened to me
). People might pass the violin guy by for fear of engaging him, for fear of thinking he will want something from them or that he might need something… which would be an even bigger issue than just not listening.
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@Daniel Decker, I think that’s a great point. I’m sure that had to be true for some.
I struggle with this constantly. We are in a very busy season of life right now. The movers come tomorrow to move us across the country. Instead of pushing through my endless to-do list this afternoon, I went outside to play with my boys. Thanks for the reminder to stop and hear!
Great comparison and I find myself way to often being busy and ignoring God yearning to spend time with me. In my mind, I am always going to spend time with him when everything is done and then he gets nothing from me b/c I am tired or b/c it is just my leftovers. I am as ignorant as those people not recognizing and acknowledging that the Savior of the universe wants to spend time with me. Wow, what an honor!
Anything with a stinger. I vividly remember swinging on the swing set when I was three and my two older brothers ran out the sliding glass door, stood at each end of the swing set and shook it as hard as they could and then ran away. The wasps that were nesting in the top tube of the swing set flew out and attacked me. The flew up my pants legs and stung me several times.
Trauma Drama!
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I’d like to think I would’ve stopped to listen. I’m not from the city, so this would be a unique experience for me. When we’ve been at the mall and there is a gentleman playing the piano, we’ve often stopped to listen and visit. I wrote a post about it awhile back. It’s a little like stopping to smell the roses, huh?
http://laurelsthoughts.blogspot.com/2005/12/pushing-pause.html
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I think it’s kind of important to realize that hearing a snatch of this guy’s music will probably not make you realize that he is different from any other guy trying to make few bucks by playing in the subway. So first people have to recognize it, then they have to have time to stop. Plus, not everyone out there likes classical music..ultimately, I think this video is less telling than you’d like.
Here’s my 2 cents after reading everyone else’s. I think if you had put Charlie Daniels out there playing the fiddle you would have had a huge crowd watching him. I think that our culture is much more interested in celebrity and populism than talent. I’m not saying that Charlie Daniels is not talented but he has celebrity. At least he did. But that’s enough. It’s like if you took me to a cricket match with the best cricket players in the world. Even if I knew that they were the best players in the world I still would be bored to tears. Why? It’s cricket!
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Dang you get a lot of comments. I tried to read them all to make sure I’m not repeating what someone else said…I couldn’t get through them all.
Anyway, this was a great post.
I do think that many people missed hearing him play because he wasn’t playing their music. I would bet that if he added a drum beat or mixed it with a DJ more people would have listened. We are all too busy to stop and listen. That is why it is so important to deliver a message people will stop and listen to.
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I’m coming in late on this post (I’m subscribed now so that won’t happen anymore), but one statement in the article is really nailing me right now: What’s the moral mathematics of the moment?
Moral Mathematics of the Moment
Now that just SCREAMS sermon title doesn’t it? Man I wish I could get access to that video because, you’re right, Pete, it’s very convicting.
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