'28' - Day 3

The question was simple: What do you think would occur, hypothetically, if one of the world's great violinists performed incognito before a traveling rush-hour audience of 1,000-odd people? The Washington Post set out to answer that question.

One Friday in January, against a bare wall outside the Metro train station in Washington DC, stood one of the finest classical musicians in the world, Joshua Bell. Three weeks before, he had filled the house in Boston's Symphony Hall, where "pretty good" seats went for $100. Two weeks later, he would play at the Music Center at Strathmore, in North Bethesda, to a standing-room only audience that held their coughs to the silence between movements.

For 43 minutes Joshua Bell played six classical pieces in a T-shirt and baseball hat, at the train station, as a mere "street musician." He always performs on the same instrument, and he ruled out using another for this gig. Called the Gibson ex Huberman, it was handcrafted in 1713 by Antonio Stradivari. Bell reportedly paid about $3.5 million for it a few years ago. The final haul for 43-minutes of playing was $32.17; some gave only pennies. 1,097 people passed by, that day, a man whose talents can command $1,000 a minute. Too busy. Too focused. Too stressed. Too late.

In Acts 3, we get a story about a crippled beggar. This man, over 40-years old, had been crippled from birth. Not able to run and play as a child, being riddiculed by his peers, learning to be a beggar, being treated less than human in a place that was smelly and dirty, bored and broken, he sat. Every day. Watching people. Waiting. Hoping. How many people passed him by without noticing him? How many people altered their daily commute to purposefully avoid him?

Beggars aren't the only people with needs. All around us there are hurting people. Some are crippled, blind, deaf, or mute. Others are poor, sick, hungry, or homeless. Some are rich and healthy, but empty and lonely. Others are discouraged or depressed. MANY ARE LOST WITHOUT CHRIST! Do you notice the people around you that are hurting or in need?

Each of us has something to give those in need. Peter didn't have silver or gold, but gave what he had; POWER in the name of Jesus Christ! Sometimes, your faith in Jesus Christ is the best thing you can give someone in need. Pray for God to open your eyes and your heart to see the needs of people around you. Then, do what He speaks to your heart. Sow the seed, and leave the rest to Him. He often does more than we expect if/when we listen and obey.