One evening a record-breaking crowd in Atlanta, Georgia attended a special session of the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra. The audience was literally captivated with the piano playing of one gentleman. It was later written that after the performance a lady went up to him and greeted him with the words: “Oh, how I wish that I could play the piano like you.” She was rather taken back with his response. He said in a firm but gentle voice: “Oh no you don’t.”

Of course, he was right. What we desire is the finished product. Who among us would not like to get in front of thousands and display a marvelous talent and then wait for the applause? But how many of us are willing to spend the literally thousands of hours that it takes to become an accomplished pianist. Frankly, there are not too many who are willing to make that kind of a commitment. Persistence and earnestness: They are virtues too long ignored by the church.