Day with a Difference - March 02, 2006

Today's Inspirational Quote:

"If you hear a voice within you say 'you cannot paint,' then by all meanspaint, and that voice will be silenced." - Vincent Van Gogh

The Master

Wishing to encourage her young son's progress on the piano, a mother tookher boy to a Paderewski concert. After they were seated, the mother spotteda friend in the audience and walked down the aisle to greet her. Seekingthe opportunity to explore the wonders of the concert hall, the little boyrose and eventually explored his way through a door marked "NO ADMITTANCE."When the house lights dimmed and the concert was about to begin, the motherreturned to her seat and discovered that the child was missing.Suddenly, the curtains parted and spotlights focused on the impressiveSteinway on stage.

In horror, the mother saw her little boy sitting at thekeyboard, innocently picking out "Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star." At thatmoment, the great piano master made his entrance, quickly moved to thepiano, and whispered in the boy's ear, "Don't quit. Keep playing." Thenleaning over, Paderewski reached down with his left hand and began fillingin the bass part. Soon his right arm reached around to the other side ofthe child and he added running obbligato. Together, the old master and theyoung naive boy transformed a frightening situation into a wonderfullycreative experience. The audience was captivated.

That's the way it was and is with our Heavenly Father. What we canaccomplish on our own is hardly noteworthy. We try our best, but theresults aren't exactly graceful flowing music. But with the hand of theMaster, our life's work truly can be beautiful. Next time you set out toaccomplish great feats, listen carefully. You can hear the voice of theMaster, whispering in your ear, "Don't quit. Keep playing." Feel Hisloving arms around you. Know that His strong hands are there, helping youturn your feeble attempts into true masterpieces. Remember, God doesn'tcall the equipped. He equips the called. And He'll always be there to loveand guide you to great things.

Expand your knowledge base

Vincent Van Gogh

Vincent van Gogh, for whom color was the chief symbol of expression, wasborn in Groot-Zundest, Holland. The son of a pastor, brought up in areligious and cultured atmosphere, Vincent was highly emotional and lackedself-confidence. Between 1860 and 1880, when he finally decided to become anartist, van Gogh had worked unsuccessfully as a clerk in a bookstore, an artsalesman, and a preacher in the Borinage (a dreary mining district inBelgium), where he was dismissed for overzealousness. He remained in Belgiumto study art, determined to give happiness by creating beauty. The works ofhis early Dutch period are somber-toned, sharply lit, genre paintings ofwhich the most famous is "The Potato Eaters" (1885).The Potato Eaters - Considered Van Gogh's first great paintingConsidered VanGogh's first great painting is attached.

Have a memorable day!
Priya