There was once a Shakespearean
actor who was known everywhere for his
one-man show of readings and recitations
from the classics. He would always end his
performance with a dramatic reading of
Psalm 23. Each night, without exception,
as the actor began his recitation -- "The
Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want" --
the crowd would listen attentively. And
then, at the conclusion of the psalm, they
would rise in thunderous applause in
appreciation of the actor's incredible
ability to bring the verse to life.
But one night, just before the
actor was to offer his customary recital
of Psalm 23, a young man from the audience
spoke up. "Sir, do you mind, if tonight, I
recite Psalm 23?"
The actor was quite taken aback by
this unusual request, but he allowed the
young man to come forward and to stand
front and center on the stage to recite
the psalm, knowing that the ability of
this unskilled youth would be no match for
his own talent. With a soft voice, the
young man began to recite the words of the
psalm. When he was finished, there was no
applause. There was no standing ovation as
on other nights. All that could be heard
was the sound of weeping. The audience had
been so moved by the young man's
recitation that every eye was full of
tears.
Amazed by what he had heard, the
actor said to the youth, "I don't
understand. I have been performing Psalm
23 for years. I have a lifetime of
experience and training, but I have never
been able to move an audience as you have
tonight. Tell me, what is your secret?"
The young man humbly replied,
"Well, sir, you know the psalm...but I
know the Shepherd." It makes a difference.
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