Few people play an organ. Yet, any of us can pull out all the stops. We can give our best effort in whatever we do.

In the world of music, nothing compares to pipe organs. Their unique sound has filled churches, concert halls, and other buildings for centuries.

Organs can be used for all types of music. They are probably best known for classical and sacred.

An organ’s sound results from air vibrations in its pipes. I don’t understand everything about how that works. However, I do know three facts:

1. If an organist pulls out a knob called a stop, it allows sound from a set of pipes (a rank).
2. If the organist pushes a stop in, no sound can come from those pipes.
3. The more stops pulled, the larger the sound.

You can see an organist pulling out stops in the picture above. (Some newer organs have replaced pull stops with tilting tablets.)

Organist and writer Emily Akin suggested and helped with this phrase. She describes pulling out all the stops as “giving it all you’ve got.”

Let’s not hold anything back. Let’s pull out all the stops!

“Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might” (Ecclesiastes 9:10 NIV).

Do you have a favorite expression or one you want explained? If so, please comment.

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