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Peter Shaffer, in his play "Amadeus," chronicles the life of the composer Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart through the eyes of a rival composer, Antonio Salieri. We learn about how Salieri began his career as a musician and composer out of a genuine desire to serve God. As a boy, the prayer: "Lord, let me celebrate your glory through music..." Christ as the head. But not the only head. From the beginning, Salieri is the two-headed aberration. The rest of the prayer: "Lord, make me a great composer. Let me celebrate your glory through music ... and be celebrated myself. Make me famous through the world, dear God ... make me immortal." How to live? He's missed it. He's worried about too much other baggage other than the bread of life.
As Salieri writes his music--as he composes a march of welcome to honor Mozart's entry into Vienna--many times he looks up to the crucifix on the wall and whispers, "Gratia, signore." Thank you, Jesus, Lord, for the gift of music. But then, after Mozart's own gift for composing puts Salieri to shame, publicly is shown to be the superior of the two, Salieri returns to his study and whispers again, this time coldly and sarcastically: "gratia, signore." Thanks for nothing. How to learn? He's missed that too. God is unable to teach him because he is absolutely obsessed with his own desires. Salieri confesses at one point, "All I ever wanted was to sing to God" ... but it's not true. All he ever wanted was first, to sing to God--that's one "head"--and second, to be celebrated and famed himself--that's the second "head." And how to love? That's gone, too. As Mozart's music is celebrated throughout Vienna, Salieri turns his own voice to heaven, and declares, "From now on, we are enemies, you and I--because you gift Mozart, and not me ... unjust, unkind ... I will block you, I swear it. I will ruin Mozart, your incarnation."
Is that life? And do you see that this is exactly where your own life will end up if you let it become divided in loyalty, between Christ on the one hand and your own preferences, desires, understandings, on the other? Sooner or later--God will end up getting in the way of the other--and you will end up sacrificing your allegience to Christ altogether.
Source: Peter Shaffer, "Amadeus"
A family was riding down the road one afternoon. Husband and child were both trying to talk to mom at the same time. Finally, the wife said, "I can't listen to both of you at the same time!" The child replied, "I don't see why not; you have two ears!"
Often we try to "listen" both to God and to the world at the same time. Even though we do have two ears, such a feat of dual allegiance is not possible. "You cannot serve God and wealth" (Matthew 6:24).
Source: Parent Life, July 1998, p. 44.
Topics/Tags: Allegiance; Listening; Loyalty
In Tuesdays with Morrie (Doubleday, 1997), author Mitch Albom converses with his old college professor, who is now dying of Lou Gehrig's disease--and passing along the wisdom of his experience:
"The fact is, there is no foundation, no secure ground, upon which people may stand today if it isn't the family. It's become quite clear to me as I've been sick. If you don't have the support and love and caring and concern that you get from a family, you don't have much at all....
"Say I was divorced, or living alone, or had no children. This disease--what I'm going through--would be so much harder. I'm not sure I could do it. Sure, people would come visit, friends, associates, but it's not the same as having someone who will not leave. It's not the same as having someone whom you know has an eye on you, is watching you the whole time.
"This is part of what the family is about, not just love, but letting others know there's someone who is watching out for them. It's what I missed so much when my mother died--what I call your 'spiritual security'--knowing that your family will be there watching out for you. Nothing else will give you that. Not money. Not fame."
He shot me a look.
"Not work," he added.
Source: Mitch Albom, Tuesdays with Morrie (Doubleday, 1997)
Topics/Tags: Loyalty; Priorities; Family; Satisfaction
The Baptist minister in a small town got a phone call from a teenager whose mother was very ill. "Brother John," he said, "Mother wants you to come pray with her."
The Baptist minister was flattered, but also a little puzzled, because he knew that the family attended the local Church of Christ.
So, he asked, "Is Brother Syms [the Church of Christ minister) out of town?"
"No, sir," the boy said. "We don't want Brother Syms exposed to what Mother has."
Source: Clara Null, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Topics/Tags: Ministers; Pastor; Denominations; Loyalty
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