I went to an auction recently, and learned a lesson about life “
There was a battered and scarred violin, and the auctioneer thought it scarcely worth his while to waste much time on it, but he held it aloft with a smile. “ What am I bid good folks? “ he cried
“Who will start the bidding for me? A pound – one pound. Then two, only two, who will make it three? Going for three….”
But no, from the back of the room 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 carolling angel sings.
The music ceased and the auctioneer
With a voice that was quiet and low
said “ Now what am I bid for the old violin?” and held it aloft with the bow
“ A thousand pounds? Who will make it two? Two thousand ? Who makes 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 understand
What changed the worth?”
Quick came the reply
“ The touch of a Masters hand. “
And many a man with life out of tune
Battered and scarred with sin
Is auctioned cheap to a thoughtless crowd
Much like the old violin.
A mess of potage, a glass of wine,
A game and he travels on,
He’s going once, and going twice,
He’s going and almost gone
But the Master comes, and the foolish crowd
Can never quite understand,
The worth of a soul, and the change that’s made
By the touch of the Masters hand.