Perspective

How often do we train and practice and wonder what good it does? We go over and over the same information to a point where we ultimately think it’s just a waste of time. We think our individual effort in the process surely couldn’t make that much of a difference.

A number of years ago lightening struck a naphtha tank at one of our refineries. The tank was located in the middle of the tank farm. It was amazing how well our employees responded, each doing their job with speed and precision, to put out the resulting fire without it escalating into a major incident.

At certain times in life we may often feel insignificant and useless. Surrounded by people we perceive to possess greater knowledge or talent, we are tempted in a weak moment to settle back and let someone else do the work. We may reason that what we have to offer won’t make much difference anyway.

Sir Michael Costa, a great music conductor and composer of his day, was conducting a rehearsal in which the orchestra was joined by a great chorus. About halfway through the session, with trumpets blaring, drums thundering, and violins swelling their rich melody, the piccolo player muttered to himself, “What good am I doing? I might just as well not be playing. No one can hear me anyway.” So he kept the instrument to his mouth, but made no sound. Within moments, the conductor cried, “Stop! Stop! Where’s the piccolo?” It was missed by the ear of the most important person of all.

It’s much the same way with the use of our abilities that God has given us. Whether our talent is great or small in relation to how we perceive others, the performance isn’t complete until we do our best with what we have been given.