Perception

I'm a busy person.  Most likely you are as well.  Places to go...People to see...Things to Do.....

But I have to say I was called up short this morning when I received the following message in my e-mail inbox.
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PERCEPTION

 THE SITUATION 

  

In Washington , DC , at a Metro Station, on a cold January morning in 2007, this man with a violin played six Bach pieces for about 45 minutes.  During that time, approximately 2,000 people went through the station, most of them on their way to work.  After about 3 minutes, a middle-aged man noticed that there was a musician playing.  He slowed his pace and stopped for a few seconds, and then he hurried on to meet his schedule. 

4 minutes later: 

The violinist received his first dollar.  A woman threw money in the hat and, without stopping, continued to walk. 

At 6 minutes: 

A young man leaned against the wall to listen to him, then looked at his watch and started to walk again. 

At 10 minutes:

A 3-year old boy stopped, but his mother tugged him along hurriedly.  The kid stopped to look at the violinist again, but the mother pushed hard and the child continued to walk, turning his head the whole time.  This action was repeated by several other children, but every parent - without exception - forced their children to move on quickly.

At 45 minutes:

The musician played continuously.  Only 6 people stopped and listened for a short while.  About 20 gave money but continued to walk at their normal pace.  The man collected a total of $32.

After 1 hour: 

He finished playing and silence took over.  No one noticed and no one applauded.  There was no recognition at all. 

No one knew this, but the violinist was Joshua Bell, one of the greatest musicians in the world.  He played one of the most intricate pieces ever written, with a violin worth $3.5 million dollars.  Two days before, Joshua Bell sold-out a theater in Boston where the seats averaged $100 each to sit and listen to him play the same music.

This is a true story.  Joshua Bell, playing incognito in the D.C Metro Station, was organized by the Washington Post as part of a social experiment about perception, taste and people's priorities. 

 This experiment raised several questions: 

       *In a common-place environment, at an inappropriate hour, do we perceive beauty? 

        *If so, do we stop to appreciate it? 

        *Do we recognize talent in an unexpected context?

One possible conclusion reached from this experiment could be this: 

If we do not have a moment to stop and listen to one of the best musicians in the world, playing some of the finest music ever written, with one of the most beautiful instruments ever made, how many other things are we missing as we rush through life? 

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As an artist, these final questions intrigued me. As a skeptic, I went right away to find out if this is indeed a true story.  It is.

I won't be writing much on this post because I so want you to read the Washington Post story in its entirety.  It is lengthy but such a powerful story....with powerful questions and observations.  It brought me to tears more than once as I read it.  Please spend the time to read it all.  I doubt you will regret it. 

(link:  http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/04/04/AR2007040401721.html )

As a daughter of Abba, the deeper meaning and questions of this whole thing rocked my world this morning. 

How often do I not have time for His beauty....in His creation....in His people....in His Word...in His love?

Oh precious Abba, please open my eyes, my ears, my heart to Your beauty all around me. I don't want to miss even one little note, or flower petal, or child's smile.  Because in each beautiful piece, You are there.  I want to see and hear and feel YOU in my everyday world.