Mendelsohn

[NOTE: Attribution for the Original has been Lost] 

The cathedral organ had just been rebuilt and was acclaimed to be the most magnificent in all Europe.  The night before its re-dedication, the cathedral was empty and the Sexton was just finishing his rounds in the choir loft when he heard a lone set of footsteps coming down the aisle – slowly, reverently but steady.  As he turned to see who had invaded this holy space, he saw a travel-worn visitor making his way toward him.  The traveler stopped by the organ and gazed at it in awe.  He asked the Sexton if he might, perchance, be allowed the honor of seeing the console of this magnificent treasure. 

Reluctantly, the Sexton unlocked the console cover and opened it.  The visitor’s eyes raced across the console consuming every detail of the multiple banks of keys, the switches and stops, the pedals … 

Then the visitor asked if he might sit on the seat of the great organ.  Seeing the man’s poorly tailored and shabbily kept clothes the Sexton said he honestly didn’t think he could to that.  The visitor said he understood his reluctance, but, all the same it would mean so very much to him if he could.  So the Sexton relented and allowed him to sit at the bench – the command and control center of the organ.  The visitor’s eyes gleamed in the dim light and his demeanor became animated just being in the mere presence of this magnificence. 

Then the visitor asked the Sexton if this organ was, truly, as magnificent in sound as it was in sheer beauty.  The Sexton assured him it was many times more magnificent in sound, the finest one could ever hope to imagine to hear, whereupon, the visitor asked the Sexton his permission to play the organ. 

The Sexton could not believe he was hearing such a preposterous request!  He said “I have shown you the organ and allowed you to sit at the bench, but I cannot possibly allow you to play it – my very job would be taken from me if anyone knew I had allowed someone unschooled and unauthorized by the Musicians’ Guild such liberty.” 

But the visitor was not deterred.  He said he was not entirely unschooled and it would be such a great disappointment if, after having traveled all the distance just to see the organ, he would not be able to hear how magnificently it sounded.  Finally, the Sexton relented again and said he could play for a few minutes. 

The visitor reverently set a few switches and stops, then began tenuously to play.  The trueness of the notes and resonance of the sound in the great empty cathedral sent chills through his soul.  Then, as though responding to a Higher Power all on their own, the visitor’s fingers began to send wave after wave of sounds soaring through the rafters and reverberating off the marble walls.  It was the Sexton who was now in awe. 

As the sound evaporated and the visitor finally stepped down from the console, he profusely thanked the Sexton for his indulgence.  The Sexton asked if he could tell him his name:  “Mendelsohn … Felix Mendelsohn.” 

The Sexton was aghast:  He had almost refused one of the greatest master musicians of all time the privilege of playing the one instrument worthy of his talent. 

Find and develop your own MASTERY.

Become WORTHY OF GREAT THINGS!

Don’t shy from having to travel far

or endure great difficulty

 in order to attain the satisfaction

that only YOUR Dream and YOUR Destiny can fulfill.

Quartermaster