It reminds me of a little story about Nicollo Pagannini, the great violinist that I referred to in a previous story, “Beautiful Music.” He willed his marvelous violin to Genoa, Italy, the city of his birth, only on the condition that it not be played. It is a peculiar wood in that as long as the violin is used and handled, it shows little wear. As soon as it is discarded, the wood begins to decay.
The exquisite mellow-toned violin has become worm-eaten in its beautiful case, valueless except as a relic. The moldering instrument is a reminder that life, withdrawn from all service to others, loses its meaning.
If you want your life to have joy and meaning, if you want to retain your value and your worth and not disintegrate into a worthless relic, you must serve and remain active.
© 2006, John C. Fitts, III. All Rights Reserved. Reprinted from Grace Drops, Volume 4 (2006).