I have been blessed to be in Waco this week at the 9th annual Alleluia Conference hosted by Baylor University. If you're not familiar with the music program at Baylor, it's excellent and everything they do is well done...or so I've been told. I received a flyer for this conference back in March, I think, and when I looked at the clinicians, I felt this tug from God that I needed to go. So, I made plans. It happened to be timed perfectly, where Heather would be in New Orleans, and Grandma and Grandpa (my parents) would provide lodging for Ella and I, and entertainment for Ella!
As the weeks went by, I quickly became aware that I was worn out. Physically, mentally, spiritually, you name it, I was tired. Part of that is being the parent of a young child, and another part of it (as I've now realized) is that I lost focus. Focus of what is important in serving in the church. It's not the mundane practicing each week for worship. It's not just the meetings.It's not the planning. The focus is on relationships. Our relationships with one another, and most importantly, our relationship with God. Don't get me wrong, the planning, the preparation, all of those things are extremely important. But they lead to strengthening those relationships.
Yesterday, as I started day 1, I had this feeling that something big was going to happen. Not sure what, but something big. And I was wrong. Instead of it just being one something being big, it was someTHINGS that were big. From making connections with the Membership and Chapter Director of the Choristers' Guild (something that will hopefully lead to a San Antonio chapter), to hearing one of my favorite organists, Michael Burkhardt, play the organ, and teach me about making the hymns and the music dance. All while professionally dressed in shorts! All the other guys had on dress pants and were a little less casually dressed. Then, I was blown away by a concept that I sort of had an inkling of, but hadn't taken it to it's fullest extent. Choirs are like a piece of music! And what we do in our rehearsals can translate and should flow out from our time together into the life of the church. In a piece of music, everyone is working together, some parts are loud at times, some parts are quieter. In theory, this is how the church should be working. We all work together on various projects, submitting ourselves in love and reverence to each other, and focused on a goal. But the part that cut me to the heart was that there are times where a voice part will rest. That doesn't always mean that they are done for the entire piece! That was the part that hit me the hardest.
Day 2, today, was mainly about Children's Choir. I went to college to teach high school kids, because anyone under 6th grade scared me. God really has a sense of humor, doesn't He? As I've been going along, I thought I was doing OK, but for the longest time, I felt like some day, someone was going to find me out. Today was a shot in the arm and an encouragement to me that I can do Children's Choirs, and they can be God-blessed and successful. It's all a matter of priority. That priority has to be equipping them for service for the Lord and for others. Not just learning how to sing. That can be done quite easily. But we in the church are called to a much greater task than this. Instead of just caring about whether the children sing well or not (which is important!), what would a choir look like and sound like when there's strengthen relationships with each other, where there is mutual respect, and everyone is working together for the glory of God!
Both yesterday and today, I've been ready to go back to San Antonio at the end of each night, because I'm so excited to get my sleeves rolled up and ready to go. But I still have tomorrow an Friday! And I know that God is going to send more encouragement and opportunities my way!
Another update tomorrow!
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