Great Maturity

Born in Berlin on this day in 1876, Bruno Walter became a conductor beloved by orchestras worldwide. A musician once observed, “He takes fear away from every individual and gives him courage and self-confidence.”

Many of his insights developed as he began to appreciate the importance of maturity. He once commented that, for conductors, everything at first seems to be easy and natural, but then they go through a period of doubt and insecurity until, finally, they become mature. This was the point when their music really displayed depth and escaped the trivial.

As an example, Walter recalled how only with maturity did he “understand the depth of emotion” in the music of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. When he was “very immature,” he had conducted two Mozart symphonies, and then realized that he was not ready. Only much later did he feel he really understood this music, and could conduct it with insight and understanding.

He had come to realize there were depths that could only be plumbed through experience. Yet he marveled how some young conductors felt that maturing wasn’t important. They conducted works which needed “depth of feeling” and maturity. The results were interpretations that were shallow and superficial.

Many Christians do not realize the importance of maturity. They have not followed the Bible’s command to “reach forward to those things which are ahead,” and “press toward the goal… of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.”

No matter where you are on your journey, remember that you can mature even more. Don’t be content with the status quo. Press on toward that upward call.