It has been said that gaining mastery over any subject you choose can be done with 10,000 hours of study and practice.
I wish it were that easy.
What is commonly known as the “ten thousand hour rule” came out of a study in the early 1990’s called “The Role of Deliberate Practice in the Acquisition of Expert Performance.” It essentially surveyed violin players at a prestigious music academy, violinists who were by definition elite, and considered to be among the best of the best. These people universally began practicing violin as young children. The accomplished skill they had developed had opened the doors of the academy to them. What was discovered was that, though some of these musicians were possibly child prodigies, by the time they had reached the academy the DIFFERENCE between the amount of time these virtuosos had practiced their instrument versus less-skilled players amounted to about 10,000 hours MORE practice.
I studied the guitar when I was in school. And the trombone. And the trumpet. I remember my parents insisting that I go to my bedroom, close the door, open my window, and blow the horn out the window when I practiced trumpet. It never occurred to me what a commentary this was on my level of skill, but I laugh about it now. I’ve also come to pity my neighbors. But I never practiced enough to become great at playing the trumpet. To tell the truth, even being “good” at the trumpet was a ways off.
I have an uncle who is very, very good at guitar. Even at the age of 95, he still practices playing every day. He recently gave me one of his guitars. It was hand made at the famous Ramirez workshop in Madrid Spain, it is the model used by Andres Segovia. The first thing that struck me was how much of a beating the guitar case had taken! It is literally covered in black duct tape and the handle has been replaced by a 2-inch wide nylon strap. I love its sound as I play but, truth be told, what I do could hardly be described as playing the guitar. Especially when compared to my uncle. He is a master, I am a three-chord wonder.
Today’s verse may not seem to relate to the introduction I just gave you; but I’m hoping it will make sense by the time we’re done.
I AM SURE THAT WHAT WE ARE SUFFERING NOW CANNOT COMPARE WITH THE GLORY THAT WILL BE SHOWN TO US
The sad truth is that practice alone cannot make you good at anything, let alone make you one of the best; not even 10,000 hours of it. With all due respect to Vladimir Horowitz, he was mistaken when he said the difference between ordinary and extraordinary is practice. Because practice does not make perfect, practice only makes permanent. If you practice the wrong thing, you only make the wrong thing permanent. Only perfect practice makes perfect, and for that you need an extraordinary coach. The people who will become the best of the best must be trained by the best to be the best. (Try reading THAT sentence out loud three times !!!!)
In music that process takes place between a teacher and her students. In football that process takes place between a coach and his players. In Christianity that process takes place between a mature believer in Jesus and a person who is younger in their faith walk. We don’t call it “practice” – we call it discipleship.
The thread that runs through all of them goes something like this. Observation developed attraction. Attraction grew into interest. Interest led to participation. Participation developed skill. Those skills gave rise to love. Love demanded greater dedication, from which emerged utter commitment. Loving dedication, honed skills and determined commitment combined to provide opportunity to impact people as those skills are employed and displayed. The display of those skills attracts others, and the circle continues.
You may think that in the Church it is the clergy who are supposed to be the key performers. Believe it or not, that is NOT the biblical approach. The Apostle Paul makes it clear that the role of leadership in the church is to EQUIP His people for works of service, so that the Body of Christ may be built up. The leaders are certainly called to lead by example, and they share as much responsibility as anyone else for living out their faith in a way that impacts the world around them. But in many ways, they are the COACHES, not the players.
When the field of endeavor is a sporting arena or a theatre, the participants are not typically placing their lives at risk as they perform. While competition may be strong, especially among sporting teams; it is not intended to be deadly. Following Christ, however, is quite different.
Christ calls us to lay down our lives, to be ready and willing to sacrifice all we have and all that we are to fulfill His mission of making disciples of all nations. Even baptism, the rite of initiation into the covenant of salvation, is framed with the image of dying to self, being buried with Christ, and then being raised with Him.
Yes, serving Christ may require suffering. The bible is filled with one example after another of the sacrifices made by the followers of God in pursuit of serving Him well. The Apostle Paul recounts his labor for Jesus, and measures it in imprisonments, in beatings, and in frequent danger of death. Five times Jewish leaders whipped him with a punishment of thirty-nine lashes. Three times he was beaten with wooden rods, much like the Taliban use today as they patrol the streets. Once Paul was stoned by a mob that left him for dead after they had finished their task. He was shipwrecked not once or twice, but three times, and spent a night and a day in the open sea wondering if his time on earth was finished.
Paul’s service to Christ put him in frequent danger from bandits, from his fellow Jews, and from the Gentiles. He was in danger in the city and in the country, in danger on the sea and among false brothers who were actually enemies. Paul often went without sleep, often without food, and often without protection from cold and exposure.
What was his response to all this? He wrote …
I AM SURE THAT WHAT WE ARE SUFFERING NOW CANNOT COMPARE WITH THE GLORY THAT WILL BE SHOWN TO US
Paul’s back was scarred from whips and beatings, but he kept his eyes on the prize. The difficulty that disciples of Christ face — even the greatest of them — CANNOT COMPARE with the glory that will be shown to us.
When a musician completes a concert the audience applauds their performance, sometimes even with a standing ovation. When a sports team wins a championship, they receive a distinctive trophy or a ring. But at the end of their “performance,” Christians get a greater understanding of the WHY behind their sacrifice and service; they get a deeper revelation of HIS GLORY.
His glory is never going to fade or be forgotten. His glory will remain forever!
We believers get to reveal His glory and His love to those who do not yet know Him.
As the worship song says ….
Turn your eyes upon Jesus. Look full in His wonderful face.
And the things of earth will grow strangely dim in the light of His glory and grace.
Nope, IT AINT EASY.
He never said it would be easy.
He said it would be WORTH IT.
I AM SURE THAT WHAT WE ARE SUFFERING NOW CANNOT COMPARE WITH THE GLORY THAT WILL BE SHOWN TO US
