The Fiddler

The rain and snow come down from the heavens and stay on the ground to water the earth. They cause the grain to grow, producing seed for the farmer and bread for the hungry. It is the same with my word. I send it out, and it always produces fruit. It will accomplish all I want it to, and it will prosper everywhere I send it. You will live in joy and peace. The mountains and hills will burst into song, and the trees of the field will clap their hands! - Isaiah 55:10-12

One day a very gifted, very skilled fiddler began playing in a park. His devotion to his music was such that he was soon completely enraptured by the act of playing. A crowd of people began to form around him, listening to music that was so uplifting that they spontaneously began dancing, forgetting all their worldly cares.

But then a deaf man happened by and stood with wondering eyes, gazing at the scene before him. He could not hear the music, so he could not understand why all the people were whirling around, stamping their feet, clapping their hands, smiling at one another. Since he couldn’t understand the reason for their joy and movement, he concluded that they were all madmen.

The music of God’s presence is everywhere around us. Nature sings of His almighty presence. Those who have a spiritual ear hear it, recognize the tune and cannot help but fall sway to its rhythms. The believer dances with joy, tapping his feet to the beat of God’s heart. He becomes enraptured by the Spirit’s presence, not inebriated with wine but on God’s love.

The unbeliever, being spiritually tone deaf, cannot understand what all the excitement is about. He does not hear the music that is playing in our hearts but looks only upon the outward ecstatic expressions of that love. That music is expressed when we care for one another, when we serve our community, when we submit to the appropriate authorities and work hard for our living; generosity is the harmony, love takes the lead, service is the backbeat and worship is the result.

The world looks at our eyes shining through our tears, our hope in the midst of terrible circumstances, our strength in the face of persecution and shakes its head crying out “Fools!” But they didn’t understand Christ’s light when He came either. “Although the world was made through him, the world didn’t recognize him when he came. Even in his own land and among his own people, he was not accepted. But to all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God. They are reborn! This is not a physical birth resulting from human passion or plan—this rebirth comes from God.” (John 1:10-13).

Are you struggling through your life? Are you barely making it emotionally? Maybe you need to start listening to the Fiddler.