Lessons from listening to a handbell choir

Everyone has their own bell to play.
Each bell sounds different from the others.
Not everyone plays the same number of times.

Some bells need to be played very softly.
Some bells are played loud and often.
Sometimes a bell is played with glad abandon, holding the bell up and letting its tone resound.
Other times a bell is played very briefly, and then tamped to stop the ringing.
Many times bells are played at the same moment, making beautiful harmonies.                                                   

No one gets to do whatever they want.
No one is critical of the sounds the other bells are making.                                                                                             

The sound is beautiful and whole only when everyone plays their own bell at the right time.

Everyone watches the leader (not each other) and obeys his every gesture with no comment.

Playing the bells together beautifully did not happen overnight. It took work, practice, and dedication.
At the end of the song, everyone is happy with the work and the music they were able to make together.

The leader of the choir is especially happy.

The audience is simply delighted.

“For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you. For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ, we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith; if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully.”

Romans 12:3-8 NIV