The Conductor

"Wait for the Lord; be strong and let your heart take courage; yes, wait for the Lord." Psa. 27:14 I was speaking with a senior in college the other day and addressed the age-old question that every potential graduate asks, "What am I going to do after college?" The future is on the minds of everyone. And it's so important for parents to discuss with their kids. Everyone needs to have a handle on how they deal with the unknown. We all need to be reminded that true peace about tomorrow can only come when we surrender our concern to God today. He controls it all and we can trust His timing. Someone said, "We will never really know what the future holds but we can know the One who holds the future." Much like the conductor of an orchestra, God waves his baton in different directions at different times. It might seem like all that waving makes no difference at all, but a great conductor, like our great God, knows exactly what He's doing. An orchestra is a large instrumental ensemble that contains sections of string, brass, woodwind, and percussion instruments. The term orchestra derives from the Greek ορχήστρα, the name for the area in front of an ancient Greek stage reserved for the Greek chorus. I'll have to admit that I've always been skeptical of the importance of a conductor. It seems like all they do is stand there in their tuxedo and wave their wand around. Then, when the music stops, they turn and bow. Aren't the musicians doing all the work? But then I discovered something about conductors. They practice the art of directing a musical performance by way of visible gestures. The primary duties of the conductor are to unify performers, set the tempo, execute clear preparations and beats, and to listen critically and shape the sound of the ensemble. Though it appears that they're doing little to create the musical masterpiece, their leadership is critical if the collection of sounds is to be unified into a crescendo. God is the Great Conductor of our lives. He knows exactly when to wave the wand and exercise His sovereign will. He knows that certain instruments need to be utilized in certain ways. The flow and pace of the Great Conductor is absolutely crucial to the overall sound of the music. God knows when to wave that baton! He is the Master Conductor and knows every musical piece forward and backward. He invented the music itself and holds the specifics of the future in His hands. The Great Conductor knows the big picture while the players are focused on their own parts. He always, always has the big picture on his heart. God knows when to emphasize sections and to decrease others. Though the woodwinds may be paused, the strings play away. Why? Because it's their time to play. Even when the musical piece doesn't call for a particular section, that section still has an important part to play. It's a part called silence. The best thing they can do is to rest and to do it well. So much of following God's will involves patience and a willingness to wait on God's timing. God holds the future. As members of the orchestra, we're all facing the audience. Only the Great Conductor sees the full orchestra and the big picture. Our role? Play our instrument the best way we know how. Ask Him to help us. Trust that He knows what the next page of music holds and He'll be right there in front of us to lead us through. Yes, all that waving of the baton makes a difference. If we trust Him, He always works it out. One note at a time. By Eric Joseph Staples © www.parentingyourteen101.com