The Touch of the Master's Hand

So one day my wife got me a gift. It was a thoroughly well thought out, and home made gift, the best kind of all. She had been listening to "Chicken Soup For the Soul" audiobooks, and was particularly touched by a poem called, "The Touch of the Master's Hand" by Myra B. Welch.

Twas battered and scarred, and the auctioneer thought it scarcely worth his while

To waste much time on the old violin, but held it up with a smile;

"What am I bidden, good folks," he cried, "Who'll start the bidding for me?

A dollar, a dollar; then two! Only two? Two dollars, and who'll make it three?

Three dollars, once; three dollars twice; going for three..." But no,

From the room, far back, a gray-haired man came forward and picked up the bow;

Then, wiping the dust from the old violin, and tightening the loose strings,

He played a melody pure and sweet as caroling angel sings.

The music ceased, and the auctioneer, with a voice that was quiet and low,
said; "What am I bid for the old violin?" And he held it up with the bow.
A thousand dollars, and who'll make it two? Two thousand! And who'll make it three?

Three thousand, once, three thousand, twice, and going and gone," said he.

The people cheered, but some of them cried, "We do not quite understnad

what changed its worth." Swift came the reply: "The touch of a master's hand."

And many a man with life out of tune, and battered and scarred with sin,
Is auctioned cheap to the thoughtless crowd, much like the old violin,

A "mess of pottage," a glass of wine; a game - and he travels on.

He is going once, and going twice, He's going and almost gone.

But the Master comes, and the foolish crowd never can quite understand

The worth of a soul and the change that's wrought by the touch of the Master's hand.

In her mind, the poem spoke about the way we as teachers make a difference in people's lives. A student comes to us, sometimes not believing in themselves, often told how worthless they are. Then we bring out some knowledge which helps them discover how meaningful they can be. They have a success in our classroom, and that inspires them to have a few more.

So she typed it up, and printed it a beautiful paper, and framed it and gave it to me for inspiration. I was so inspired, that I set it to music.

It was only later on, when I performed the song in church, that someone pointed out to me that it wasn't "The touch of A master's hand." It was "The Touch of THE Master's Hand." The master, of course, being God. The song also works on the level of meaning how God's presence in our life can change us from the path of self destruction, and failure; towards the life of success and abundance.

I enjoy songs that work on multiple levels like this. It means that even the cynic can gain wisdom, even if they won't acknowledge the sacred in it.

Charity

1Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. 2And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing. 3And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing. - 1 Corinthians 13:1-3 (King James)

The first time I heard of this passage translated as "...and have not charity," I was taken aback. I had always heard "... and have not love." I understand that the definition charity involves love, as in caring for others; caring enough to give to meet their needs. The meaning of the passage is clear, you can walk the walk, but without truly caring for others, it means nothing.

 

The third sentence puzzles me, though. The author is hypothetically giving to the poor, which means charity to me. He's sacrificing his body for the good of others. How does one do that without charity?

 

Perhaps it is possible to perform acts of charity, without really FEELING it. I'm reminded of Mitt Romney after Hurricane Sandy. He was campaigning in the mid-west at the time, and he collected cans of food for the victims of the storm. It was a kind gesture, but some wondered if it was genuine. There were rumors that he gave out the cans to people as they entered the rally, only to have them donate it back to him as a photo opportunity. Others felt that collecting canned food was kind of an empty gesture, as people in the flood areas didn't need canned food, they needed other things.

 

What Romney's act of charity really is depends on whether there was "charity" in his heart when he performed this act. Did he truly have love for the victims of Sandy? Was he trying to help, or was he doing what seemed to be the right thing at the time. (There's a disaster, we collect food.) I like to think that Mitt Romney wanted to really help out. Even though people may criticize the level of impact the collection made, anything, no matter how small, when done with love, makes a difference.

 

Lord, when I do the things I do for others, please make my heart truly caring and thoughtful. Keep my mind on how to help, rather than wanting to appear to help. In Jesus' name I pray.