Each is dressed elegantly, their instruments polished; they are ready. The audience claps eagerly, overjoyed to see the musicians. Each audience member sits on the edge of their seat...heart pounding, mind running, face beaming; the anticipation is killing them.
-What is it going to sound like??-
-What will they play?-
-Will I be the same after hearing them play?-
Each heart wonders, their minds reeling.
The audience has been waiting their entire lives to hear the orchestra play and the only opportunity has come at last.
The audience is practically hungering for the music as they wait for the musicians to get situated. Each person in the audience shelters a deep and insatiable craving for the orchestra's song... yet, they've yet to even hear them play....
The reason for this is so simple, but so complex. There, deep within each heart lies a hole, and that hole is shaped only to fit that of the orchestra's song.
The loudest sound in all of the audience is their breathing, excited and coming in gulps. They sit like children, awaiting the sweetest of treats; they almost squirm. Almost.
The orchestra sits and glance around at one another, slight nods of assurance are traded between the musicians. They, too, are eager.
The audience straightens with the orchestra and the lights dim slightly in the house, for all spotlights have been centered on the orchestra.
The air is tense; stomachs unsettle, eyes shine.
The conductor walks out onto the stage, then, after the orchestra has settled and he bows majestically.
Another round of full applause and the conductor erects himself and takes his place before the orchestra; he smiles, then raises his baton; the golden cue. Simultaneously, the musicians raise their instruments.
The only sound now is that of the beating hearts. No one moves.
Then, the conductor and the orchestra begin and as they do, so does the greatest disappointment to ever take place.
Hearts break in that same, earth-shattering moment, each sinking to oblivion. The hole in their hearts grows larger, and larger, consuming them.
There's. Not. One. Breath.
-This isn't happening.-
Then suddenly, in waves, small gasps slip in through the house, each a blow to the conductor's chest.
-Have I gone deaf?-
They cry.
-What's wrong?!-
The audience begins to panic, frightened, but they know that isn't right— for—
For they can hear one another's gasps and audible, unmistakable anxiety...
They can hear the complete dismay and utter sorrow coming from those .....even furthest away from them.
There is no sound. The orchestra is playing...but there...is..no ...sound.
Tears begin to fall, and angry, the audience trails out. What else can they do?
They've waited their whole lives to hear the sweetest music to ever be played and when they are at last about to hear, their tickets and programs in hand, there is no sound from the musician's instruments.
What else would they do?
Soon, the orchestra plays inaudibly, emptily, for empty seats, a vacant House. All have abandoned hope; not one soul remains.
Is this how those around me feel....though perhaps only in their subconscious, when I don't share my Savior's love for them?
Am I like a silent orchestra?
I carry with me the sweetest of all melodies...yet I have no volume?
A chill runs down the length of my spine as I sit at my piano, and suddenly, I don't feel like playing anymore. All I can do is pray.
In each of our hearts is a God-shaped hole. Only God can fill a God-shaped hole, right?
Knowing this, how could I ever keep silent?
From this day forward-
I pledge never to keep silent about my faith, or my love for God, or God's love for mankind.
With God as my witness, I shall have the loudest of instruments for the singing of His song. Never again will an audience member, a child OF God, leave without hearing His sweet melodies, for that alone would truly be the greatest of tragedies to ever take place.
