anecdote 1 – THE VIOLINIST a true story

_________________________________________

THE VIOLINIST

a true story

–

a man was playing the violin

at a subway station in washington DC

one cold winter morning at rush hour

he was playing complex bach pieces

as people rushed about ignoring him

–

a middle aged man stopped for a few second

then hurried along to his appointment

a woman tossed a dollar into his violin case

without stopping and walked quickly away

–

another man stopped, listening intently

he leaned against the wall

then looked at his watch

and was quickly on his way

–

a three year old boy came next

he stayed the longest, enthralled by the music

his mother dragged him away

he resisted but lost in the end

–

the same thing happened

to three other kids

clinging in vain to their independence

their lives were controlled

by parents who had no time

–

in the 45 minutes the violinist played

only six people stopped to listen for a while

four children were dragged by their mothers

twenty gave money, then walked away quickly

he collected $32 in all

–

when he finished playing

there was a deafening silence

the rush hour had ended

no one noticed him, no one applauded

he walked away, feeling happy

–

no one knew he was joshua bell

one of the best musicians in the world

playing one of the most intricate pieces

with a violin worth 3.5 million dollars

–

two days before his subway concert

he performed at a boston theater

where seats averaged $100 each

the tickets were all sold out

–

joshua bell playing incognito in a subway station

was organized by the washington post

as part of a social experiment

about perception, taste and priorities of people

–

one conclusion was –

at the ‘wrong’ place at the ‘wrong’ time

beauty is unseen, we are blinded by tasks

the same beauty that awes a crowd

grappling for a seat and paying a fortune

–

how many times do we fail to see

what children see so clearly

because we have too many promises to keep

then we regain our vision back momentarily

at the ‘right’ place at the ‘right’ time

–

what is right and wrong are mere perceptions

the heart is often controlled by circumstance

spaghetti at a street joint can taste better

than at a five star place but we do not know it

we become blind when the mind takes over the heart

–

anonymous

rewritten by eastwind

–

_________________________________________

if your heart is kind

you can see forever

–

sister raquel reodica RVM

–

_________________________________________

THIS MATERIAL IS POSTED AT

www.sisterraquel.com

A GLOBAL HEALING BLOGSITE

YOU ARE INVITED TO BE A MEMBER

SO YOU CAN READ SUCH MATERIAL

–

HEALING THE SPIRIT (forgiveness)

PRECEDES HEALING THE BODY (cancer)

ATTACHED TWO MEDITATION POSTERS

–

_________________________________________

you are a child of the universe

no less than the trees and the stars

you have a right to be here

and whatever your labors and aspirations

in the noisy confusion of life

keep peace in your soul

–

with all its sham, drudgery

and broken dreams

it is still a beautiful world

be cheerful, strive to be happy

–

excerpt from desiderata

max ehrmann, 1927

–

_________________________________________

try this experiment

–

do not plan your day, wallow in dreams

be sensitive to people and things around you

see what happens

if you will gain spiritual treasures

even if you lose material ones

–

there are times not planning is the best plan

for example, you cannot decide

what career to choose

because you lack the wisdom of experience

fulfillment or frustration are imagined

you just have to do a trial and error

the earlier you plan based on theory

the more blunders you commit

–

the wisdom of experience will guide you

try and make mistakes before you decide finally

the more you hurry, the more you fall

‘children of the universe’ sometimes give

better counsel than sages or scholars

–

eastwind

–

_________________________________________

return to Me with your whole heart

with fasting weeping and mourning

rend your hearts not your garments

return to Me your Lord your God

–

for gracious and merciful am I

slow to anger

rich in kindness

relenting in punishment

–

joel 2:12-13

–

_________________________________________