Musical Gifts

All Saints' Episcopal Church, Lakeland

Recently, I had the privilege of playing my friend Stefan Waligur's song "Consider the Lilies" with a young friend at church. I was certain that the experience of this pure voice singing music that is so inviting to a sense of God's provision would be well worth the trip that morning and I thought of inviting friends on Facebook to join us for the service just to hear the song.

As the service unfolded, logistical details and various unknowns distracted us. The singing and the playing were okay, but they didn't rise to the level of specialness we had experienced in our rehearsals. And that's alright. I trust that what needed to be communicated was communicated.

That said, this occasion reminded me of two powerful truths.

1. The most meaningful moments of music making - the moments in which something breaks through to our souls and lets us know that some wonderfulness exists beyond our material lives - these moments often come in the practice room and the rehearsal space, not in the sanctuary or the concert hall with lots of listeners. This is an excellent reason to be involved in making music one's self!

2. If we supposedly mature musicians are feeling stressed or unfocused, we need intentionally to take time to provide what we are able to give the musicians around us: stability and a comfort zone, a platform for singing/playing into their potential. The same must be true of our teaching. By taking time and creating this space, we can grow the great "kin-dom" of peace which Jesus announced.