Perspective and Untapped Potential

Just shortly after World War 1 the United States went through a period of self-reflection. With 16 million dead this self-reflection included thoughts on religion and God. In 1925 religion was even put on trial in the John Scopes 'Monkey Trial' of Dayton, Tennessee. As people tried to cope with the destruction and trials they had faced they wondered about this man named Jesus and whether or not religion was actually making a change in their lives or in the world. It was during this time that Myra Brooks Welch wrote a poem that has deeply impacted my life since reading it and has increased my understanding of my Savior. The Touch of the Master’s Hand was published on February 26, 1921 in The Gospel Messenger. It beautifully describes something that metaphorically the Master, Jesus Christ, has amplified to it's true potential and made it more valuable. As we examine the poem we see that Welch has given us imagery that helps us understand this attribute of what the Savior can do for us.

We begin in an auction with an auctioneer that doesn't have much faith in an old violin:

’Twas battered and scarred, and the auctioneer

Thought it scarcely worth his while

To waste much time on the old violin,

But held it up with a smile:

“What am I bidden, good folks,” he cried,

“Who’ll start the bidding for me?”

“A dollar, a dollar”; then, “Two!” “Only two?

Two dollars, and who’ll make it three?

Three dollars, once; three dollars, twice;

Going for three—” But no,

From Welches description of the old violin and from the low bids of the audience this violin seems worthless perhaps even dusty and broken. The auctioneer seems to hold it up with a smile of pity for it rather than of hope that it will be bought at high price. Then Welch has the story change to a description of a man...

From the room, far back, a gray-haired man

Came forward and picked up the bow;

Then, wiping the dust from the old violin,

And tightening the loose strings,

From this section of the poem I feel a sense of wisdom as I read it. The gray hair is a symbol for the man’s age and wisdom. He sits in the back meaning that he is often overlooked but also that he has a view of the entire room in front of him. He sees all. As he tightens the loose strings we recognize that he knows what he is doing with the instrument and must believe he can fix it. Similarly, in our lives Christ may be often overlooked, but he sits in a place from which he can see all of us, and he recognizes within us that there are things that needed to be fixed in order for us to be at our full potential.

He played a melody pure and sweet

As a caroling angel sings.

The music ceased, and the auctioneer,

With a voice that was quiet and low,

Said, “What am I bid for the old violin?”

And he held it up with the bow.

“A thousand dollars, and who’ll make it two?

Two thousand! And who’ll make it three?

Three thousand, once, three thousand, twice,

And going and gone!” said he.

Finally, we get the climax where the Master plays the violin and suddenly the auctioneer and the bidders realize the true worth and potential of the old violin. The perspective of all present changes and they start to desire and admire the timeworn instrument.

The people cheered, but some of them cried,

“We do not quite understand

What changed its worth.” Swift came the reply:

“The touch of a master’s hand.”

We then realize that what changed the worth of the instrument was the ability of a master to help it and play it in a masterful way. The Parallel with Jesus Christ is then described in the remainder of the poem:

And many a man with life out of tune,

And battered and scarred with sin,

Is auctioned cheap to the thoughtless crowd,

Much like the old violin.

A “mess of pottage,” 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

Never can quite understand

The worth of a soul and the change that’s wrought

By the touch of the Master’s hand.

From Welch’s poem we learn the importance of perspective and how we should try to see things and more importantly people as they could be and not as they may appear. Similar to the classic “Don’t judge a book by its cover” neither should we judge each other by the dust or out of tune life we may have. But I think the biggest lesson from this is that within each of us no matter how low we have sunk or how boring we may seem has untapped potential that can leave our metaphorical auctioneers in awe. I was reminded of the apostle Peter. In the book of Matthew Peter is described as the brave and faithful soul that asks the Savior if he can walk on water too. This simple man, raised as a fisherman, born in a time period with little to know advances or inventions, in an area of the world that had practically stayed the same for hundreds of years… This man that would have probably sold for a dollar or two in the auction ultimately becomes the only other person I know of to have Walked on Water. Because of the touch of the Master’s hand and the faith in that Master Peter had, he completed the impossible. This poem and this lesson from the Master reminds me that I am capable of so much more than what shows on the surface. It also teaches me to see all who are around me in similar fashion. To not be a part of the “foolish crowd” I need to understand what is possible and the worth of a soul “by the touch of the Master’s hand.”