The Drone

            The story is told that the great concert pianist, Paderewski, played before Queen Victoria. Listening, she exclaimed with enthusiasm, “Mr. Paderewski, you are a genius!”

            “Your Majesty,” he replied, “perhaps, but before I was a genius, I was a drone.”

            I don’t know if Paderewski was ever a drone; however, there was a time when he had to work and work hard to become a better pianist. Writer Malcolm Gladwell says that “geniuses” must put in a minimum of 10,000 hours pursuing their craft before they can look forward to impacting culture.

            I hope this helps us put our own pursuits in the proper perspective. There is no such thing as an overnight sensation. As we strive to labor in the kingdom of God, it is good to remember that we will need to work hard, no matter how much talent we have.