You never know what you will stumble upon on the Internet. Recently I came across an article that dealt with euthanasia for those who are dieing. But the article took it a step further. It proposed that the right to die be given to the elderly and then anyone who was infirm. Lastly, he added those with emotional difficulties. He said that that the deaths of those suffering with depression and attempted suicides and succeeded cost 25 million dollars a year on hospital bills, medication, autopsy, funeral expenses, . . . . Then the article goes on that these cost are counterbalanced by the economic gain of these deaths: no paying out of pensions, no continuing drain on the system, no more health care needed for these people.
It was a sobering thought because in the end, it was the worth of the person (defined by what they could give back to society) that determined their right to live. And in this case it was economics. What about what the person gives to her neighbor or the stray cat she took in?
I found this a few days ago. As I've thought about it, it has made me think of an old song by Wayne Watson called Touch of the Master's Hand. I'm not sure what brought it to mind.
It was battered and scarred
And the auctioneer thought it was hardly worth his timeTo waste much time on the old violinBut he held it up with a smile"Well, it sure ain't much, but it's all we got leftI guess we aught to sell it tooOh, now who'll start the bid on this old violinJust one more and we'll be through"And then he cried, "One give me one dollarWho'll make it two, only two dollars, who'll make it three?Three dollar twice, now that's a good priceNow, whose gonna bid for me?Raise up your hand now, don't wait any longerThe auction's about to end.Whose got four, just one dollar moreTo bid on this old violin."The air was hot and the people stood aroundThe sun was setting lowFrom the back of the crowdA gray haired man came forwardAnd picked up the bowHe wiped the dust from the old violinAnd he tightened up the stringsThen he played out a melody pure and sweetSweeter than the angels singThen the music stoppedAnd the auctioneer in a voice that was quiet and lowHe said "Now what am I bid on this old violin?"Then he held it up with a bowThen he cried out, "One give me one thousandWho'll make it two?Two only two thousand, who'll make it three?Three thousand twice now that's a good priceCome on whose gonna bid for me?"And the people cried out, "What made the change?We don't understand."The auctioneer said with a smile,"It was the touch of the master's hand."
There's many a man
With his life out of tune, battered and scarred with sin
And he's auction cheap
To a thankless world, much like that old violin
The master comes
That old foolish crowd never understands
The worth of a soul and the change that is wrought
By one touch of the master's hand
Jesus would have died just for me. There is hope in that. Hopefully it makes me look at the battered person on the bus more kindly or the woman on welfare differently. I do not know their circumstances, but God does. I do not know the music of their lives, but God wants to make music in every one's life.
5 comments:
Nice post! I love the words to that song! Hope you're doing well! :)
Hi Amy,
I've always loved that song - beautiful. I purchased a card not long ago, just because I liked the words. On the front of the card was a picture of a violin - similar to the one on your post - and it said on the front, "In the orchestra of life, God has given you a special, unique song to play". When you opened the card it simply said, "Play on".
May the song of your life be a melody that encourages others today and draws them to the Divine Composer,
Joy
Wow,
I don't know if I have the words to say more than that. I needed that. the reminder of the song, and the last 2 paragraphs you wrote especially. Thank you!
It's been a tough week, and tough counseling session yesterday. Still kind of reeling.
thank you for the reminder, no matter how battered and scarred I am I can sound beautiful in the hand of my Master... beauty... so hard right now to believe...
God bless,
Heather
Amy, I wrote about you and some of your posts on my blog tonight.
Check out "cookies and fries" on Pragmatic Compendium!
Amy,
here is a link to my newest post on some of the stuff I have been goign through.. I would covet your prayers...
Thanks so much!
Love you,
Heather
http://hkudla.wordpress.com/2008/08/21/that-night-a-dark-room-once-locked/
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