WHAT ARE YOU PASSING BY?

Last January, there was a street performer at a subway station in Washington, D.C.  He started playing his violin just before 8:00 A.M. and played for 43 minutes — the height of rush-hour.  He had his violin case open . . . just in case anyone wanted to make a “donation.”

During the 45-minute “concert”, 1,097 people passed by.   Only seven people stopped and listened for a minute or more.  Twenty-seven dropped money into the street performer’s violin case.  He made $32.17.

This was done as an "experiment" for an article that was published Sunday, April 8, 2007 in the Washington Post.  There was a hidden video camera that recorded the whole event.  So what’s the big deal???

The violinist was Joshua Bell, one of the greatest classical musicians in the world.  He was playing one of the most valuable violins in the world — his $3.5 million dollar Stradivarius.  And he played six of the greatest masterpieces of all time.

AND NO ONE REALIZED IT!

Many people were hurrying on their way to work and rushed within three feet of the performer. People couldn’t get that close to Mr. Bell at his sold-out concert at Symphony Hall in Boston three days before.  The average ticket was $100.00.

PEOPLE DIDN’T EVEN REALIZE WHAT THEY WERE PASSING BY.

What are you passing by?  Take time to notice the moment you are in.  Now is the greatest time of your life, now will soon be gone forever.  Enjoy the moment you are in.

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