Ignacy Jan Paderewski was a diplomat and the second Prime Minister of the Republic of Poland in 1919.
He was also a very accomplished composer and pianist who played before sellout crowds at Carnegie Hall and Madison Square Garden.
Paderewski was also a popular speaker and often quoted because of his wit.
Here’s an example:
“I established a certain standard of behaviour, that, during my playing, there must be no talking. When they began to talk, I would stop. I would say, ‘I am sorry to interrupt your conversation. I deeply regret that I am obliged to disturb you, so I am going to stop for a while to allow you to continue talking.’ You can imagine the effect it had…”
He also candidly remarked about his piano playing:
“If I miss one day of practice, I notice it. If I miss two days, the critics notice it. If I miss three days, the audience notices it.”
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Making the Connection to Our Lives
I’m certainly no poster child for reading the Bible.
A year ago, I didn’t even know where to find my copy.
But the more I challenge myself to experience the Power of Four (reading the Bible at least four days per week), the more I experience the absence of God’s word when I skip a day.
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Paderewski knew the impact of missing one day of practice on the piano, but he could probably hide it from others.
By the second day, his critics and most likely his wife knew it.
By the third day, the world knew it.
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How quickly do others notice when Christians don’t occupy part of their week in the Word?
I’d say my wife and kids have me spotted within two days.
Easily.
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“Think over what I say, for the Lord will give you understanding in everything.”
(2 Timothy 2:7)
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How quickly do you notice a difference when you stop occupying time in God’s Word?
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Image herein of Paderewski’s Steinway grand piano courtesy of wikipedia article on Ignacy Jan Paderewski.
Brent,
I wonder if we would notice if we reached the skill level of bible reading and understanding that Paderesky had in his piano playing?
It certainly is worth the effort.
Great post brother.
Pat
Thank you Pat for the kind comment. It’s fair to assume Paderewski put in his 10,000+ hours over 10+ years of piano practice to achieve mastery. Great observation about reading God’s Word with that much focus. Certainly, a blessing to anyone on that path.
Ugh! This is a painful truth and a confirmation/ God has been trying to get my attention regarding this exact issue! I actually try to “fool myself”(I don’t think I am fooling anyone else)into thinking I can gain that close relationship with the Lord by listening to podcast of my favorite teachers. Oh, they are a great resource, but I have been convicted lately of the realization that I am basically ease-dropping in on the conversation these men and women have with their Lord. Am I gleaning? Yes. But I am copping out. Instead of using them to under-gird what I am hearing in my own intimate time with the Lord, I am settling for a ‘second-hand relationship. I need to hear personally from Him. To make that time, in my day, week, month to meet with Him “face to face”
Wow…Wow… thanks for the confirmation.
Hi Dawn. Thanks for the powerful observation! You’ve put into words what I couldn’t quite capture but was regularly experiencing with other people’s sermons, podcasts, etc. It is important to have good teachers, but in the end, it is their relationship with the Lord. We need to clearly prioritize our own time in the Word and prayer.
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