The Washington Post recently ran a very interesting experiment. They hired a world class classical violinist, Joshua Bell, to play outside of a metro station to see if anyone would notice him, listen to him or even give him a dollar. Here's some excerpts from google news:
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Joshua Bell is one of the classical music world's iconic figures, but fame didn't stop the Grammy-Award winning violinist's music from falling on deaf ears at a subway stop in Washington.
Bell, 39, received the most coveted prize in classical music -- the Avery Fisher prize -- on Tuesday, two days after The Washington Post revealed that he had failed to draw even a tiny crowd while performing in an anonymous setting.
The boyish-looking Bell swapped his formal concert garb for jeans, a T-shirt and a baseball cap to play six classical pieces outside a Metro station in a test of perception and public taste conducted by the Post.
Bell says the results after 43 minutes during morning rush hour -- $32.17 and only one of 1,097 people who passed by recognizing him -- were more surprising than being asked to do the stunt in the first place.
"I was quite nervous and it was a strange experience being ignored," Bell, a former child prodigy who attracts a young following and commands ticket prices of $100 or more at his concerts, told Reuters on Wednesday.
"Obviously I am spoiled by getting up on stage and having people clap and pay money to see me, and it changed my perspective on things."
"Maybe once is enough for me for this kind of experiment," Bell said, smiling. "But I myself will certainly be paying more attention to street musicians when I walk by."
Check out the story and the video here: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/04/04/AR2007040401721.html?hpid=topnews
$32.17. That's it. Here is a guy that has set a new standard in classical violin playing and he couldn't make more than you would during an 8 hour shift at Quick Trip. I wonder how many of those folks that passed him by would have jumped at the chance to see him if he were playing locally for $100 a ticket. I bet there were more than a handful that would have said, 'oh, I've heard of him and I would love to see him. Because I know greatness and I'm not afraid to pay $100 to see greatness.' That same man or woman walked on by and it was free.
Why? Well, it was a surrounding that people weren't expecting. I mean to see Michael Jordan play at the University of North Carolina and for the Chicago Bulls was a real treat for me back in the day. But if he was playing at the local YMCA, would I notice? I've met Eddie Van Halen and to watch him play a guitar was a joy, but would I bother giving him a nickle if I saw him at the Guitar Center playing? Or would I say, 'that dude is trying to sound like Eddie Van Halen... what a dork.'
We are making the same mistake with our faith. In the context of crisis or inside a church, it all makes sense right? I mean we pray because the pastor said pray. We raise our hands to choruses because that's what the people on stage are doing. We greet those around us with love because the pastor said, 'stand up and greet one another with a hug or a hello'. In the right setting, we are all about this guy Jesus and we can't wait to hear what he has to say next.
But when we are exposed to the greatness of the Christian faith 'outside it's proper box', we tend to either get confused or just simply ignore it. Our Christian faith at work doesn't always seem to fit. Our faith while watching our favorite team go 1 for 23 to end their season doesn't seem to fit. Our faith while seeing a pretty girl who smiles at you (or guy) doesn't seem to fit. Do we realize the greatness we are all about? IF we heard Jesus preaching in a Metro Station, would we pay him any attention or just say, 'man, the homeless problem is just out of control'.
You can pick and choose, I guess, to notice a master musician playing on the street. You can ignore him if you like. You can also give him $100 one day and pretend he isn't there the next day. But to make that same mistake with 'The Master' is a fatal flaw. How do I know? I make that mistake more than I wish to. I make it at work. I make it when my favorite team goes 1 for 23 to end their season. And I make it even in the obvious places.... like church. I know I'm missing some great things; I'm just ignoring them or hoping they go away. Are you?
