Previous Reflections
REFLECTIONS
February 8, 2009
Humility and the fear of the Lord
bring wealth and honor and life.
Proverbs 22:4
Second Fiddle
Jeff lifted his eyes seeking his cue from his playing partner. When he found it, he looked to the strings on the mandolin he was holding. Then, just as he had done so often, his fingers found the chords to play in tune with the melody Buddy was singing. It was not Jeff’s job to play the starring role. His job was to help present the singer.
It wasn’t as if Jeff lacked the skills to play a lead role himself. He is really talented at what he does. He is skilled with more instruments than one can count. On this occasion, he played the accordion, the mandolin, the piano, and the spoons. But he also plays the fiddle, guitar and who knows what else. But this time and most others like it, Jeff was asked to step back and play second fiddle to another’s starring role.
Aholiab was also talented at his craft. The son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan, he was filled with skill to do all manner of work of the engraver and the designer and the tapestry maker, in blue, purple, and scarlet thread, and fine linen, and of the weaver — those who do every work and those who design artistic works.[1] Indeed that is the job Moses asked him to do. Artists were needed to build the tabernacle, but he was not given the starring role. God asked him to play second fiddle to Bezalel just the way Jeff did for Buddy. And he did it.
I can’t help but wonder how Aholiab felt as Bezalel took the bows when the tabernacle was finished. And I wonder if Jeff ever yearns to take the spotlight from Buddy and the other stars he supports.
It takes humility to play second fiddle. Someone else will take top billing before the show; someone else will grab the spotlights on the stage; and someone else will take bows to an applauding audience. And none of the stars receiving the tribute would have performed nearly as well had it not been for those playing second fiddle. But even second fiddle is a more admired role than most of us play.
Most of us are called to stand even more deeply in the background—to be supporting casts, stagehands, or custodians of the theatre. And even for these we may seek accolades for the work we do. But we are called to play second fiddle.
It’s the only way to reflect the Savior.
“You are the light of the world,”
Richard Ì
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