Today’s guest blogger is Jeremy Gardner, friend of The 410 Bridge and a pastor in Savannah, GA.
Playing the Second Fiddle:
In a bluegrass band, you may see two fiddlers…first fiddle and second fiddle. It is the first fiddle that is responsible for the melody while the second fiddle plays the accompaniment or harmony.
The term “second fiddle” has come to be used for someone that plays a secondary role in support of another that plays a leading role. Often, the “second fiddle” carries the connotation of not being quite good enough. Musicians will tell you, however, that it is the second fiddle that has the power to create or destroy harmony within the piece. Some will say that it is even harder to play the second fiddle; but, as hard as it is to play second fiddle, it is even harder to find someone willing to play it. It is not a glamorous role. The whole point is to make the first fiddle look and sound good. .. to compliment. .. to harmonize … to blend.
Leonard Bernstein, the famous conductor of the New York Philharmonic said, “I can get plenty of first violinists, but to find someone who can play the second fiddle with enthusiasm—that’s a problem. And if we have no second fiddle, we have no harmony.”
On 410 trips, U.S. teams do not lead. Our communities lead and we follow.
This will require humility. You may not be comfortable. You may not get to do what you want.
Your priority cannot be yourself, your comfort, or your interests.
It is crucial for us to realize that we have the power to ruin our relationships and our witness to communities by complaining rather than complimenting… by disrupting rather than harmonizing… by resisting rather than blending.
Are you willing to play second fiddle and do so with enthusiasm?
If you do – if you play the second fiddle well… the music can change lives… families… communities… nations!
