Three thousand elementary school children filled the concert hall of the Cleveland Symphony Orchestra. You guessed it. The sound of that many voices was deafening. The musicians took their places. The maestro stepped to center stage without saying a word or gesturing for quiet. Slowly the din of voices diminished.
Softly the director spoke. If you promise to keep from whispering you will hear the tiniest instrument of the orchestra. In a few moments the celesta played Twinkle Twinkle Little Star as a tiny lighted star descended from the ceiling. The baton came down and the full orchestra played that favorite children’s song.
Henri Nouwen said we are frightened by the noise of silence. Chatter and clamor overpower the still small voice of God. His tiny celesta-like voice has an important message for us, if only we would listen.
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