It was time for the inaugural cruise of the most anticipated vessel of all time. The CEO hired the most gifted musicians to play in the atrium for his guests. It was going to be an historic cruise.
As the cruise was nearing its conclusion, the string quartet gathered to play one last time. The critics also gathered.
Did they hold that note long enough?
Did they let the pause rest long enough to give rise to anticipation?
Were they playing with enough emotion and feeling?
The critics had a job to do and they would do it at all cost.
One barely noticed the growing chaos all around. The deck was tilting, boards were groaning, rafts were lowering and people were crying.
But the band kept playing and the critics kept writing. They, after all, have a standard to protect. Their craft has to be perfect. They were the guardians of that craft.
The crowd was beginning to thin. The screaming got softer. The cries became muted. The band kept playing and the critics kept writing.
Until there were no people.
Until there was no ship.
At least we played to the last.
At least we were true to music.
At least we stuck to the standard.
Sure, people are dying all around but we kept to the mission of music.
Some would say this is a false dichotomy. I would say it is time to reread the parables of Jesus. You might say he was the King of dichotomy. True, you can play the instrument and care about the people around you but when the evidence all around you points to a ship sinking and people dying, maybe it is time to put the violin down and help someone get on a raft and help them live.
While you were declaring which halftime show was the right one…
The guy you sat near at church is still addicted to porn,
The single mom still doesn’t know what to do with her son,
The alcoholic still can’t wait for the service to end so the can take another drink,
The teen next door is still being used to make money for their parents.
Someone died outside in the cold just down the street from a warm, vacant church building
The Titanic is sinking but hey, at least we played well and watched the right halftime show.