The Monday Memo
from South Africa
Dr. John Stanko
Issue 48
February 11, 2002
www.purposequest.com
This week I was reading a collection of essays on servant leadership, a topic we will look at in future Monday Memos. This particular book contained a moving story of someone searching for and finding their life purpose, and I can't resist passing the story along to you.
The essay was written by Michael Jones, a gifted pianist, author, speaker and educator, according to his introduction. In the article, Mr. Jones shares the turning point that led him to go beyond his career as a consultant to become a famous pianist. One day someone heard Mr. Jones playing the piano in a Toronto hotel lobby, something he did as a hobby while he traveled. The man approached him and asked Mr. Jones an important question:
The man asked, "Do you work at the hotel?" I said, "Oh, no, no, no. I'm a consultant. I'm busy trying to change the world." To my disappointment, he didn't seem at all impressed by that. Then he asked, "How many other people do this kind of consulting work that you do?" I said, "Well, probably 20 or 30, I would guess, in the Toronto area." And then he looked at me, and at that moment what I most recall about the meeting was how clear and sober his eyes appeared, from how he seemed a few minutes before. He said, "Who's going to play that music if you don't play it yourself?"
I felt that question drop in a way that I had not heard a question drop inside of me before. I realized it was a question for which I had no answer. . . Then he stood up, a little uneasy, and steadied himself by putting his hand on my shoulder, and said, "This is your gift -- don't waste it." Meanwhile I sat on the piano bench, stunned by the question and the sense that it had just changed my life. Who will play my music? I asked myself.
Since I can't talk to you face to face this week, I want to pose the same question to you in this Monday Memo? Who will play your "music" if you don't? Who will write the book, build the business empire, take the missions trip, sing the song or fulfill your destiny if you don't? Are there others who can do what you are doing now, while something only you can do remains undone?
Michael Jones answered that question by concluding that no one would play his music if he didn't. He overcame his fear, as he tells it, of going broke, being ignored or failing and went on to sell two million copies of his piano recordings. I am not guaranteeing this measure of success, for that is in God's hands. But I can promise you the same sense of adventure and fulfillment if you let go of the familiar to embrace the unknown as you follow your dream.
I have come to the conclusion that if I don't deliver the purpose message the way I do, no one else can or will. So I have determined to spread the purpose gospel and trust that God will lead me where I need to go and provide for me along the way. This week my music has brought me to southern Africa, and for that I am grateful. Now isn't it time to find out where your music will take you?