It was 1994. Daily, the city of Sarajevo was under siege. Mortars and artillery
fire instantly transformed once beautiful buildings into rubble. Sarajevo's
citizens were frightened, weary and increasingly despondent. Then, one February
day, a mortar shell exploded in the market killing 68 civilians. Many more were
wounded and maimed from the blast.
A cellist with the Sarajevo symphony could no longer stand the killing. He took
his cello to the market, sat down amidst the rubble and played a concert. When
he finished, he simply took up his instrument and left.
Every day, for 67 days, he came to the market. Every day he played a concert. It
was his gift of love to the city. He did it because he felt his community needed
hope.
Hope is music in the heart. It is a gift given to each of us to see us through
the night. Once you have lost hope, you have nothing left to lose. Utter
hopelessness kills everything it touches. But hope gives us strength to
continue, whether it be a marriage that is worth saving, a life that is worth
living or a situation that is worth salvaging.
In the end, hope is a spiritual thing. When all is in chaos and ruin, hope is
the knowledge that the music still goes on. In this vast and infinite universe,
we are not alone.
During those times when all may seem to be crumbling down around you, can you
hear the music in your heart -- the song of hope?
Listen carefully. It is there, playing for you.
Author unknown. If anyone has a proprietary interest in this story please
authenticate and I will be happy to credit, or remove, as the circumstances
dictate.
Thanks to Life Support
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