FROM THE TOP!

Last Sunday, Jane was in Phoenix for a wedding, I was on my way to 8:30 a.m. church, sleepy from a late night and the time change, and doubting myself as a result of some feedback during the week. In the car I flipped on our local classical music station broadcasting “From The Top” which features outstanding young musicians.

I tuned in just in time to hear 13 year old violinist Eric Tsai interviewed prior to being introduced to the audience. Eric teaches violin to his two younger brothers. They asked him if that is difficult. No, he said, it wasn’t because his family believes that music is a gift from God. Eric’s father takes the boys to nursing homes to play for the elderly. “It brings them so much joy! Like Bach put on his music “to the glory of God” I want to play for the glory of God.”

What a perspective for a 13 year old! The interviewer wanted to know if Eric was nervous. “YA” was all he said.

So this is how Jimmy Whales, founder of Wikipedia introduced him to the audience, “Eric, I can understand you are nervous but I have one thing to tell you. Relax a bit, enjoy this. There is no such thing as a performance that ends your career – because you can always get better!”

What are you doing today? Relax. Enjoy it. You can always get better.

And so can I. (I’m working on taking my own advice!)

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