One String Is Enough

He said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for power is made perfect in weakness." So I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me. Therefore, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities for the sake of Christ; for whenever I am weak, then I am strong.

- 2 Corinthians 12:9-10

Niccolo Paganini (1782-1840) was a virtuoso violinist, well-known for his great skill, as well as his showmanship and quick sense of humor. Considered one of the greatest violinists of all time, he also had a wonderful imagination. 

While in Italy, he fell in love with a young woman and decided to compose a piece for her. He removed the two middle strings, leaving the highest and the lowest, which represented the female and male, respectively. The piece, called Duetto Amoroso (Love Duet), told a love story on just these two strings. You can listen to it here. Audiences clearly understood what Paganini was trying to communicate and were very responsive.

Not long after this, the young woman said, "If you can do that on two strings, I'd like to see what you could do on just one." He then composed his first piece for the G string, the Napoleon Sonata. If you would like to listen to it, you can hear it here.

He went on to compose other pieces for just one string. In fact, it was commonly said that he was better on a single string than most other violinists were on all four. Here's one of his best-known, single-string compositions, the Moses Fantasy:

Paganini would occasionally rig his strings to break during performances so he could display his virtuosity on one or two strings. The audience was further impressed because they thought the strings broke accidentally and that he was improvising the performance as he went. They would leap to their feet in thunderous applause! In reality, however, he was playing pieces he had already composed for three, two, and then one string.

I know that right now many of us feel like we're down to one string, and we know we are no Paganini. Unlike him, we weren't prepared for this. We're used to functioning on four strings and we didn't rig three of them to break.

Here's the good news.

One string is enough. God's grace is enough to sustain us during this time. God's power is that strong; God's love that consistent. As long as God is guiding your hand, all you need is one string. So if you feel like one string is all you have left - and maybe it's about to snap - don't try to play it on your own. Ask God to help you play and God will show you what a virtuoso you can be. Remember, it's not the instrument that matters - it's the Artist.

It is important to remember during this present crisis, that God knows how many strings we have at our disposal. God knows if we have four, three, two or only one. God knows and God understands. Let’s just let him know that we are willing to serve him with as many “strings” as we have left.

Prayer: Lord, I am out of strings. I am out of energy. I have nothing left. But what I have, I give to you. Amen.