The Great Conductor

Some time ago, I shared with you a little bit about my grandfather, Sam Heggen.  He was a character, to say the least, but what I want to tell you about today is the awesome position he held, in New York City during the early 1920’s. From this caricature you can see he was a musician, but more than that, an orchestra conductor in a famous Vaudeville  theater.  It was he who coordinated the music to accompany the performers‘ acts, the likes of whom were, Jack Benny, Bob Hope and Eddie Foy. Oh the stories he and my grandmother would tell about those folks, speak easies and opium dens.  It really was the Roaring Twenties.

But, I digress, the point I want to make is the importance of the conductor.  If you've ever attended a musical, or a concert, there is that time, before the show begins, when the musicians warm up.  The cacophony that results assaults the ears, but then the conductor steps forth regally, baton in hand and takes his rightful place in front.  The noise ceases, and all eyes are immediately fixed on him. As he raises his baton, the musicians ready themselves, then with a swift movement of that small stick, the grating sound magically becomes a melodious symphony.

In a very similar way, we, without God, are those screechy musicians.  Everyone tooting, fiddling, plunking keys and strumming to their own sheet music. Not that we don’t have talent, but it’s talent without direction, which is just as bad.  When God offers us a place in his orchestra, as he does for everyone, our lonely squawk joins with all those other squawkers, and turns into a performance  worthy of Carnegie Hall. An orchestra can only have one conductor, two would prove to be chaos.  It is impossible to give our attention to two conductors/masters.  “No one can serve two masters.” Matthew 6:24.

To whom are you looking for direction?  The world, the media, other people or the Creator/Conductor of the Universe?    “Elijah went before the people and said, ‘How long will you waver between two opinions? If the LORD is God, follow him; but if Baal is God, follow him.’ But the people said nothing.” 1 Kings 18:21. We, like the people that the prophet Elijah spoke to, must speak up and make that decision, or risk living in inharmonious anarchy. Let’s choose to make beautiful music together, as we keep our eyes on the Great Conductor.