Getting Out of the Way

Tim Keller was recently interviewed by a writer for the Atlantic Monthly about his new book. I’d encourage you to read the whole interview, as it gives a real sense of the breadth of his reading the the passion of his heart.

As a preacher, though, I resonated with his discussion about how in his writing he simply wanted to get out of the way and let people see Jesus, that is, do justice to the material, which in this case is the gospel of Mark. He says,

There’s a true story, evidently, of [Arturo] Toscanini. He was director of the NBC Symphony Orchestra years ago, here in New York. And there was some place where he had just conducted—actually it was just a rehearsal. He conducted a Beethoven symphony. And he did such an incredible job with it that when it was all done, the musicians gave him a standing ovation. And he started to cry. He literally started to cry, and he actually had them sit down, and he wouldn’t let them applaud, and then he said, “It’s not me, it wasn’t me, it was Beethoven.”

Now, what he’s getting across there is a feeling like, “I’m just trying to do justice to the material.” And usually I don’t. And if occasionally I do ok, you shouldn’t be applauding me. It’s just, I got out of the way. I just got out of the way and we actually heard how great the music was. And I feel the same struggle. I’m just trying to get out of the way. And you can’t. In other words, when you’re actually reading, and you’re getting directly a sense of the greatness and the attractiveness of Jesus—and by the way, to say he’s attractive doesn’t mean he’s warm and toasty all the time. I mean, sometimes he’s scary, but he’s still attractive. I just want to say, I want other people to have the same experience I’ve had as I’ve read. And I never quite get there.

I know the feeling. How hard it is to get out of the way. But on those rare occasions when I do and I know that people are having to deal with Jesus and not my words, that is a joy.