Page 12 - Good News August 2008 paper

Songs Out

of Sorrow

A piece of wood once
bitterly complained
because it was being
cut and filled with rifts and
holes. But he who held the
wood and whose knife was
cutting into it so remorse-
lessly, did not listen to the
sore complaining. He was
making a flute out of the
wood he held, and was too
wise to desist for such an
entreaty.
Instead, the flute carver
said, "Oh, thou foolish piece
of wood, without these rifts
and holes thou wouldst be
only a mere stick forever - a
bit of hard black ebony with
no power to make music or
to be of any use.
These rifts that I am making
will change thee into a flute,
and thy sweet music then
shall charm the souls of
men. My cutting is the
making of thee, for then
thou shalt be precious and
valuable and a blessing to
the world."
David could never have sung
his sweetest songs (psalms)
had he not been sorely afflic-
ted. His afflictions made his
life an instrument on which
God could breathe the music
of His love to charm and
soothe the hearts of men by
such an entreaty through the
ages. - Selected