Beautiful story.
Too many people discount the power of music to communicate across traditional communication barriers. I remember, as a limo driver in between jobs, driving a very wealthy and influential man to his appointment with a senior from North Carolina. The man asked me, among other things, about my background. When I told him that I earned my Bachelors and Masters degrees in music, he very bluntly told me that he considered such endeavors as a waste of time. (I guess he had a point, I was hired as his driver after all.)
His comment, however, made me think of him with pity. That man knew only business, power, and money as a means of obtaining the things he valued; money, power, control…
I guess it all depends on your values.
I'm glad that the two men, in the end, valued the same things.
Reminds me of a story I've read with each of my children (part of the Seton curriculum): The Singing Tree . . . when the men from both sides, laid aside their weapons and lit their matches and sang Silent Night together . . . THIS was a great true story. His eyes were just twinkling!
September 2, 2010 at 11:39 am
Oh so beautiful. It reminds me of the movie "Joyeux Noel" – a WWI story.
September 2, 2010 at 2:12 pm
Beautiful story.
Too many people discount the power of music to communicate across traditional communication barriers. I remember, as a limo driver in between jobs, driving a very wealthy and influential man to his appointment with a senior from North Carolina. The man asked me, among other things, about my background. When I told him that I earned my Bachelors and Masters degrees in music, he very bluntly told me that he considered such endeavors as a waste of time. (I guess he had a point, I was hired as his driver after all.)
His comment, however, made me think of him with pity. That man knew only business, power, and money as a means of obtaining the things he valued; money, power, control…
I guess it all depends on your values.
I'm glad that the two men, in the end, valued the same things.
September 2, 2010 at 4:10 pm
Excellent.
September 2, 2010 at 7:23 pm
Wow. When you find the complete package of courage, wisdom, and goodness in a man, never discount what he can do.
September 2, 2010 at 7:44 pm
The young German could have been Catholic, too, a lot of them were.
September 2, 2010 at 8:48 pm
Wow! What a beautiful story…Side note: I can't believe how piercingly blue that man's eyes are. Just wonderful!
September 3, 2010 at 12:34 am
Reminds me of a story I've read with each of my children (part of the Seton curriculum): The Singing Tree . . . when the men from both sides, laid aside their weapons and lit their matches and sang Silent Night together . . . THIS was a great true story. His eyes were just twinkling!
September 3, 2010 at 2:48 am
His eyes? I was more impressed that he can still play the trumpet!