Ever since hearing the story of Pinocchio our son has wanted to play the violin. (Quick refresher: Pinocchio, a wooden puppet, comes to life when he puts others' needs above his own. In the Disney version of the story, Geppetto, the woodcarver who makes him, plays the violin and dances to celebrate Pinocchio's safe return).
To encourage our son's bent, and also because we enjoy it, every so often our family attends a concert in which violin (or fiddle) music is offered. At a recent concert, as I leafed through the program during some of the pieces, something about two of the featured composers caught my eye.
One, Louis Spohr, was very successful in his day. Greatly admired and respected as a composer, Spohr had the enviable position of royal musician for both the German and Austrian courts. His work was promoted by non other than Felix Mendellsohn. As I listened to his composition, while I enjoyed a few innovative phrases, I found my mind wandering after a time.
The second composer was virtually unknown in his day. Living in the relative musical backwater of Bohemia, he was unattractive physically and had bad eyesight. His attempts to see his work published mostly failed. But, as the program informed me, Schubert developed a musical style that was uniquely his own and he continued developing that style throughout his musical career. He was true to his gift and, despite forces to the contrary, shared it faithfully with others out of a heart that could only have been motivated by love itself. Perhaps that's what made Franz Schubert's work endure while Spohr's has been virtually forgotten.
How 'bout our works? Will what we do affect lives years from now? Jesus shared that that is why we were called in the first place, to bear fruit that will last (John 15:16), that will keep on bearing fruit for generations to come.
Does that sound like a tall order? Follow Schubert's example: don't be deterred by those who don't understand you or molded by those whose focus is gaining popularity or wealth. Do what you are called to do, and keep doing it til the end. Jesus promised that if we do so, with a heart of love, the work that we do will make a difference that will surpass time itself.
