During the mandatory fifteen-minute observation period following their vaccine shots for COVID-19, a room full of people were treated to something else rare and costly; an impromptu concert from an 18-time Grammy-award-winner.
World famous cellist Yo-Yo Ma has a residence in Pittsfield, Massachusetts. So, having traveled to the local community college campus to receive his vaccination shots, the celebrated musician made a request to give a little something back.
Professor Jonah Sykes said, “He asked one of our clinic managers if he could perform a few songs for folks in the observation area.” While wearing his mask, Ma set up along the back wall–socially distant from the rest of the room–and began playing his instrument. Sykes said, “Many people were moved to tears. It was an exceptional moment at the end of a long day of giving shots.”
This kind of philanthropy has become a part of Ma’s public persona. Back in March of 2020, when plenty of Americans were trying to adjust to having to stay at home, he repeatedly played his cello in a series of Twitter live streams called “Songs of Comfort.” Similarly, in August 2020 he teamed up with pianist Emmanuel Ax to play a series of pop-up concerts for frontline workers in the Pittsfield area.
If his chosen name was any indication, this is the life intended for Yo-Yo Ma. Named after the Chinese word for “friendship,” his prodigious gifting also resembles the namesake American toy. Whenever and wherever people are down, he has a knack for bringing them back up again.
Possible Preaching Angle:
When we use our God-given talents to bless the community, we honor God as the source of those talents.
