Leadership Thought: On Good Friday Jesus Died to Make You New.

Dear Friends,

On this Good Friday, I wanted to share my favorite poem.  I first heard it spoken at a Fellowship of Christian Athlete’s Conference over 60 years ago, and it meant so much to me at that time that I felt compelled to memorize it. Today it remains one of the only poems I still can still recite from memory.

It was written by Myra Welch who said she wrote it in 30 minutes. The finished poem was sent anonymously to the editor of her local church news bulletin. She felt it was a gift from God and didn’t need her name on it.

It is the timeless message of spiritual transformation that takes place when Jesus touches and changes one’s life. 

'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 grey-haired man
      Came forward and picked up the bow;
Then wiping the dust from the old violin,
      And tightening the loosened strings,
He played a melody pure and sweet,
      As a caroling 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 the Master's hand."
And many a man with life out of tune,
      And battered and scarred with sin,
Is auctioned cheap to the thoughtless crowd
      Much like the old violin.

A "mess of pottage," a glass of wine,
    A game — and he travels on.
He is "going" once, and "going" twice,
    He's "going" and almost "gone."
But the Master comes, and the foolish crowd
    Never can quite understand
The worth of a soul and the change that is wrought
    By the touch of the Master's hand.

                                      

 "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: the old has gone, the new is here!" - 2 Corinthians 5:17.

Yours in faith and friendship,

Tom