by Barbara Magnuson

I was reading a devotional by Sheila Walsh that talked about our individual uniqueness. Apparently if you take the DNA strand unique to each human being and turn it on its side, it resembles a piano keyboard. Could it be that every human being has his or her own individual melody waiting for God to unleash their song? How cool is that?

I was reminded of an old poem by Myra ‘Brooks’ Welch – The Touch of the Master’s Hand . . .

Twas battered and scarred, and the auctioneer thought it scarcely worth his while to waste much time on the old violin, but held it up with a smile, “What am I bidden, good folks,” he cried, ”Who’ll start the bidding for me?” “A dollar, a dollar; then two! Only two? Two dollars, and who’ll make it three? Three dollars, once, three dollars twice; going for three.” But no, from the room, far back, a gray-haired man came forward and picked up the bow; then, wiping the dust from the old violin, and tightening up the strings, he played a melody pure and sweet as an angel sings.

The music ceased, and the auctioneer, with a voice that was quiet and low, said, “What am I bid for the old violin?” And he held it up with the bow. “A thousand dollars, and who’ll make it two? Two thousand! And who’ll make it three? Three thousand once, three thousand twice, and going and gone.” said he. The people cheered, but some of them cried, “We do not quite understand what changed its worth.” Swift came the reply, “The touch of a master’s hand” . . .

For the last 16 years, Larry and I have been leading retreats and have had the privilege of sharing life deeply with 2000 people. Each person unique. Each person having their own melody and story. But it is sad how many who come fail to see the beauty in their own life. Yet retreat after retreat we watch as God brushes doubt, wounds, fears and more off lives and plays a new melody. 1 Peter 2:9 says that we are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people – we have been called out of darkness into His marvelous light.

We have been called into His light and into the melody He wrote within us. Are you living that melody? If not, why not?