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Love
is the Great Symphony
Though
I sing everything from folk to opera
but
don't sound out love,
I am
simply sour notes.
Though
I have developed the insight
to
predict a bit
and
know all the conservatory secrets
of
perfect performance
and
hold a great "hallelujah" of faith
but
don't project love, I am nothing.
And
though I give complimentary lessons
to the
ghetto children and burn myself
out on
the concert stage - without love
I am
an unfinished chord.
Love
is ritardando, an andante, a quiet
obbligato;
It is
not dissonant and fighting to be
heard
above the melody, not even
noticing a four-measure rest.
Love
hums happily in harmony, but
twangs
in the off-key.
Love
- sustains talent,
trusts
potential,
expects quality
and
lives through growing toward it.
Love
never lays down the baton;
where
there are ovations, they will
be
silenced;
where
there is style, it will fade;
where
there is expertise, it won't
be
needed.
For we
are aware of only earthly melodies
and we
can share only earthly melodies.
But
when the Master Composer takes the dais,
the
rehearsal will be ended;
the
concert will begin.
When I
was a beginner, I played
Every-Good-Boy-Does-Fine
and
All-Cows-Eat-Grass
and
was satisfied.
Now
that I'm a polished performer, I
set
those exercises on the shelf.
Now we
view the music vaguely but
then
sharply noted
Now I
perceive the score simply
but
then I'll have the conductor's
clarity.
So
talent, performance and love remain -
but
love is the Great Symphony.
(1
Corinthians 13, paraphrased by Jan
Bentley) |
