I am excited to share my platform with a fellow TribeWriter Troy McLaughlin. Troy is a truck driver by night, writer by day and happily married father of three. He writes about the power of getting up and not giving up. He does not have his own piece of the Internet yet, but is building it now. In the meantime, you can connect with Troy on Twitter.
How can you bring hope in a hopeless situation? Rafael Schächter did this in the Theresienstadt concentration camp. Schächter a Czech opera-choral conductor taught and lead a group of 150 captured Jews in the singing of the Verdi Requim (a Catholic Mass). The prisoners would gather in a cold dank basement after hours of forced labor to learn the Verdi. Although staving and tired they met as Schächter lead them from a smuggled score. They performed the Verdi sixteen times only later to be transported to the Auschwitz Concentration camp where most would suffer extermination from the Nazis, including Schächter. How could such a horrible situation bring hope? How could one man bring hope to his fellow captors? He chose. He acted. He gave.
He chose
Schächter chose to teach the Verdi in such deplorable conditions. He chose despite being a prisoner himself. He chose to confront his captors by resisting them through song. He chose to lead others. You always have choices.
He acted
Schächter lead the prisoners in the Verdi through multiple rehearsals. The prisoners could have went to their barracks to sleep, instead they showed up in a basement to learn and sing. Hope requires action.
He gave
Schächter conducted. The prisoners sang. Anyone can give; even you. What are your gifts? What do you know? Can you encourage? Can you show gratitude? It doesn’t have to be big to bring hope. Even a song can bring hope. You can give something.
Here is what Rabbi Leo Baeck a prisoner from the Theresienstadt Camp wrote:
“In the sheltering darkness of the long evenings, they were together in the cold and gloomy … All those hours were hours in which a community arose out of the mass and the narrowness grew wide. They were hours of freedom.”
We could chose to ignore the reality of this story. But I can’t. It leaves me without excuse. No situation in my life exceeds this. None. I have to act. I can’t run away and hide. It’s simple, I need to give what I have. My writing, my friendship, my time, my gifts, my all.
Will you choose to give what you have? That’s the question. I’m without excuse, how about you?
Music has always been the threshold between futility and victory in the mind of an oppressed people. Music led soldiers through battle. Classical music, especially, has a way of uplifting the heart and soul of mankind. However, it must be enacted upon, or it has little value. As with anything else, the choosing is what brings about value to the outcome. Great post.
Beautiful hope! “He chose. He acted. He gave” Love that.
Bravo! Bravo! Encore Troy!
Thankyou very much I’m glad you enjoyed it.
Eileen thanks for reading. I’m glad you liked it.
Thank you Shelly. We always have a choice. Even in the most dire circumstances of our lives. It certainly leaves me no choice but to give what I have.
Great post, Troy! As well as a message we all need to hear. Super job. I bet you can’t wait to hit the ground running with your own site.
Attitude is everything. Your post is a reminder that people can give out of their dire circumstances we have no excuse. None. Our attitudes drive our boats.
Yes they do Anne our attitudes do “drive our boats”. Thank you so much for reading and enjoying this post. I am certainly without excuse after knowing this story.
This reminded me of one of my favorite quotes, by Chuck Swindoll:
“The longer I live, the more I realize the impact of attitude on life. Attitude, to me, is more important than facts. It is more important than the past, than education, than money, than circumstances, than failures, than successes, than what other people think, say or do. It is more important than appearance, giftedness or skill. It will make or break a company… a church… a home. The remarkable thing is we have a choice every day regarding the attitude we embrace for that day. We cannot change our past… we cannot change the fact that people will act in a certain way. We cannot change the inevitable. The only thing we can do is play the one string we have, and that is our attitude… I am convinced that life is 10% what happens to me and 90% how I react to it.
And so it is with you… we are in charge of our Attitudes”
Good stuff, isn’t it? I can’t wait until Troy has his own little piece of the ‘net, so we can read his thoughts more often
Me too Eileen
Chris,
One of my favorite quotes as well from one of my all-time favorite authors. I think he is so wise.
Wow I wish I had half the insight as Chuck Swindoll. That guy is awesome. It’s so true Chris that attitude is so important. Even God reminds us to have the correct attitude in Josuha 1:9 where God says be “strong and courageous”. That starts with our attitude.
Nor can I Chris. I’m so thankful you gave you chose and you acted by allowing me to share with your audience.
Thanks
Troy beautiful writing and I know it to be true that you give your all to others especially in the tribe, even simple encouraging words to another is a blessing. Thanks Chris for sharing your space.
Thank you Kath. I’m so glad that Chris shared his space. Thank you for your encouraging words.
Great post, Troy. I believe too often we focus on doing the big things, but often even a simple smile brings hope to a hurting heart. Looking forward to reading more from you on your new blog.
Thank you Joan. It is the small things that can make a big difference. Glad you enjoyed the post.
Learning to change the question we ask is so important. “What could I possibly do against such odds?” feels helpless. “How can I make a difference, any difference?” is empowering.
That’s good Chris just by changing “can” from “could” helps us refocus on what’s possible. It may be a small shift but it can make all the difference.
Wow… That was very inspiring. Great writing Troy. I always believe the little things count the most.
Very encouraging. Thank you for sharing this with me. Looking forward for the next posts.
Richard thank you so much. It’s great to hear a voice from NZ by the way of San Francisco. Thank you for making me smile each night as I leave the bay. Your welcome friend.
Nice piece Troy. Sometimes it is easier to give in dire circumstances. Many of us live in a facade shrouded existence where finding a purpose or a situation to give into is difficult. I think if we in the western world were more open to revealing our flaws and deficits, and being accepted with such, then those with the song could recognize where and when to sing. And the choice to sing would not only be easier, but clearer and filled with purpose. In the meantime, let’s sing and be light wherever we find ourselves on this journey toward Home..
Thank you Kurt. Since I’ve never been in such dire straights. I don’t know if it would be easier but it sure is inspiring. When we are vulnerable and ourselves we are most effective in touching others. Being the best version of us is always are best gift to the world. We should not be a cheap version of someone else. Give what you’ve got. Don’t share what you don’t have.
Ooh, I am not sure that it would be easier. Purpose could be clearer, or we could choose still to wallow. I love the idea of living with greater transparency though, rather than hiding behind the lies of “I’m fine” and false smiles.
Thanks for giving us this man’s story, Troy.
Thank you Lucie his story is incredible. I didn’t mention it in the piece. But Rafael had to reconstitute the choir twice as he lost all of his singers. Because the Nazis took them away to Auschwitz.