A New Day

By: Pastor Johnie Akers     

1 Corinthians 12:22, “Nay, much more those members of the body, which seem to be more feeble, are necessary.” 19th century composer and conductor, Sir Michael Costa,was conducting a rehearsal with a great number of performers, including hundreds of voices. As the mighty chorus sang out in unison with the thunder of the organ, the roll of drums, the blast of horns and clashing cymbals, a man, far away in one corner, who played the piccolo, said within himself, “In all this mighty volume of music it matters little whether I play or not. I will not be missed,”and so he ceased to play. Immediately the great conductor stopped, flung up both hands, and all was still. Then he cried out, “Where is the piccolo?” His quick ear missed it. To him there was incompleteness, because one little instrument ceased playing. Sir Michael later wrote, “O ye humble, hidden one, play thou thy part! And play it well. There is an Ear that hears! Bring no discord into the harmony of the Divine oratorio! Play on! Many a worker, humble soul, has been cheered by the rhythm of your steady tread, and who knows how many, in life’s struggle, have lost heart because one hidden soul has reasoned, ‘I will not be missed,’ and so broke ranks. O ye tempted ones, we must have your part of the divine chorus. In God’s great organ there are no useless keys! So march on! Pray on! Play on! There are ears that hear! There are hearts that approve; and ‘standeth God within the shadow keeping watch above His own.’”  So often among the ranks of others who seem far more outstanding than we are, we are tempted to quit; to cease from resounding the music our life has been providentially ordained to play.  Like the piccolo player, we say to ourselves, “I do not matter.  I will not be missed.”  Yet we fail to realize there is someone who has been greatly touched by our gift and without it, the musical score will be incomplete.  Do not grow weary.  Do not give up.  You matter.  Only in eternity will we all fully appreciate the lives we have touched and the ones, who without our music, would have never been touched.  Play on, friend, play on; and in doing so, turn this day, for you and some listening unknown soul, into the symphony of a new day.