Pensees: The Language of Music

The Language of Music

The minister was preoccupied with thoughts of how he was going to ask
the congregation to come up with more money than they were expecting for
repairs to the church building.

Therefore, he was annoyed to find that the regular organist was sick and
a substitute had been brought in at the last minute. The substitute
wanted to know what to play.

“Here’s a copy of the service,” he said impatiently. “But you’ll have to
think of something to play after I make the announcement about the
finances.”

During the service, the minister paused and said, “Brothers and Sisters,
we are in great difficulty; the roof repairs cost twice as much as we
expected, and we need $4,000 more. Any of you who can pledge $100 or
more, please stand up.”

At that moment, the substitute organist played “The Star-Spangled
Banner.”

And that is how the substitute organist became the permanent organist!