Saturday, September 19, 2015
Mark 8:22 Some people brought a blind man and begged Jesus to touch him.
THE TOUCH OF THE MASTER'S HAND
'Twas battered and scarred, And the auctioneer thought it hardly worth his while
To waste his time on the old violin, but he held it up with a smile.
"What am I bid, good people", he cried, "Who starts the bidding for me?"
"One dollar, one dollar, Do I hear two?" "Two dollars, who'll make it three?"
"Three dollars once, three dollars twice, going for three" . . .
But, no . . . from the room far back an old man Came forward and picked up the bow,
Then wiping the dust from the old violin And tightening up the strings,
He played a melody, pure and sweet, As sweet as the angel sings.
The music ceased and the auctioneer With a voice that was quiet and low,
Said "What now am I bid for this old violin?" As he held it aloft with its bow.
"One thousand, one thousand, Do I hear two?" "Two thousand, Who'll make it three?"
"Three thousand once, three thousand twice, Going and gone," said he.
The audience cheered, But some of them cried, "We just do not understand."
"What changed its worth?" Swift came the reply: "The Touch of the Master's Hand."
And many a man with life out of tune All battered with bourbon and gin
Is auctioned cheap to a thoughtless crowd Much like that old violin.
A mess of pottage, a glass of wine, A game and he travels on.
He is going once, he is going twice, He is 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 is wrought
By the Touch of the Master's Hand.
-- Myra Brooks Welch
