Peter Cropper was an extraordinary violinist. At just 13 years of age he won a music scholarship to Uppingham, widely considered one of Britain’s best schools for music. He grew in his craft, becoming more and more accomplished, and success followed at every turn. Eventually, Mr. Cropper founded and led one of the most recognizable music ensembles in Britain—the Lindsay Quartet.
In 1981, Mr. Cropper’s fame and talent earned him an invitation to play at the prestigious Kuhmo Chamber Music Festival in Finland. When London’s Royal Academy of Music heard of the event, they offered to lend him their 258 year old Stradivarius violin for the occasion. Stradivarius violins, made by Antonio Stradivari, are among the very best violins in the world; they are also among the most expensive.
As Mr. Cropper made his way to rehearsal, carrying the coveted relic valued at over a quarter-million dollars, he lost his footing and fell on top of the instrument damaging the body and snapping the neck in half. He was completely devastated. Nobody believed the precious instrument could be saved, but a friend recommended it be taken to a famous luthier named Charles Beare, at the Beare Violin Shop.
In a telephone interview from London, Mr. Cropper was recorded as saying, ”I was able to find a master craftsman who, using animal glue and a lot of patience over a period of a month, repaired the neck and a crack over the bass bar of the Strad. As a matter of fact, the violin is now in better shape than ever, producing a much more resonant tone. I will be playing it in our first American tour, which starts next Tuesday in Carnegie Recital Hall in New York.”
“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.” ~ 2 Corinthians 5:17
SPIRITUAL THOUGHT
Jesus, the carpenter from Nazareth, is the true Master Craftsman. John 1:3 tells us that “All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made.” Though you may feel down, broken, even shattered in a thousand pieces, you are of far more value than any Stradivarius violin. The One who has the power to create the heavens and the earth has the power to put the pieces of your life together again. Today, give your brokenness to the Master Craftsman and allow Him to do a great work in your life. Behold, all things have become new.
MY PRAYER
Father in Heaven, though Your love is beyond our ability to fully understand, we accept it. We are all broken people in need of restoration. From the Garden of Eden to the manger of Bethlehem to this very day, Your desire has been for us. Thank You for sending Your Son into this world, that by Him we may be made whole again. We look forward to Your soon return when we may once again see You face to face. Amen.
