FRONT ROW CENTER
Last night Back Bay School had their annual Spring Concert. This is the school's last big bash of the year designed to showcase the talents, abilities and growth of their students. This time around, we witnessed a musical extravaganza of sorts. Grades K through Two had a combined choir that sang with feeling and enthusiasm. Their renditions of "My Bonnie" and "Nick Nack Paddy Wack" were particularly compelling in their intricate nuances and thoughtful interpretations. Meanwhile, their actions to the "Crocodile" song, were almost flawless! I am happy to report that our David and Graham held their own among their peers and contributed to the success of the group as a whole, especially in the well-groomed category. If it's possible for almost eight-year-olds to be debonair, our guys were in the zone!
But there was one young man in the choir who had me totally enthralled. He was a little guy dressed in black and situated front row center. Talk about being in the zone! What a show he put on! When the choir zigged, he zagged. When others tapped their toes, this guy rocked and rolled. He was into it. He was one with the music; one with the performance. I thoroughly enjoyed watching him give his all with wild abandon!
After a brief intermission, grades Three through Six performed Andrew Lloyd Webber's "Joseph and His Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat". What a wonderful experience. These kids had a confidence that only comes from knowing their stuff. I still can't believe that they knew all the words to all the songs without even batting an eye. If you're familiar with the music, you'll know how impressive this feat truly is! Some of these songs are filled with vast tracks of verbiage.
Our John played Benjamin and did a professional job that quite frankly surprised the socks off me. I really can't tell you how impressed I, and every other parent was, as we watched our children pull off a wonderful performance that was truly entertaining. Obviously, a lot of hard work went into the practice and preparation and it paid off, big time. Out of all of the events significant enough for me to forget to bring my camera, this was perhaps the greatest! But, that indeed, is another story.
Ok, what spiritual applications can we glean from this wonderful experience?
People are capable of doing more than we think! I know that we weren't the only surprised parents at the concert. I saw many an "I didn't know they had it in them" looks during the course of the evening. Sometimes, all it takes is another person's perspective; and some encouragement. Seems to me that we walk through life underestimating our own potential and the potential of those around us. Maybe seeing a person's true potential is what separates the average leader from a great leader? One thing I do know, God sees our true potential. He sees it; and He is willing to empower us and work with us so that we can shine for Him. Maybe we're another Moses, Gideon, or David in the rough and God is waiting for us to make ourself available to Him. The only way to find out is by making ourself available!
There is a confidence, a boldness, that comes from knowing one's stuff. These children sang strong and well because they knew the tunes and the words. The same is true for us as Christians: the more we know, and live by the Word, the stronger our singing. How confident can we be about the Truth of God's Word if we haven't read it, or applied it? How strong and unshakable is a faith that's based on second-hand information? While it's true that I am a preacher; a man called by God and trained to impart Biblical knowledge; that doesn't mean that I get paid to do the studying for you! Nor does it mean that you should take everything I say as the gospel truth (even if it is)! The eternal state of your soul depends on WHO and WHAT you know (faith). I think that should be enough motivation in and of itself to make sure you know your stuff very well indeed!
As I sat through the first part of the concert, I couldn't help but think about the little boy in black, front row center. It just seemed to me that he was so natural, so joyful, so expressive, so unabashedly himself. He was in the choir; doing his part, but he was also unique in his exuberance. As I watched him, I couldn't help but think that we're supposed to live like that as Christians. We're to be so involved in our relationship with God that we can't help but zig when the world zags. We're to be so thankful for our salvation that it's natural for us to rock and roll when others are merely tapping their toes. We're to have a joy that allows us to express our faith - front row center. Of course we can't just decide to be this way; it has to be out of the overflow of faith in Christ. Here's to all those who are front row center! May you never lose your exuberance!
"And now, just as you accepted Christ Jesus as your Lord, you must continue to live in obedience to him. Let your roots grow down into him and draw up nourishment from him, so you will grow in faith, strong and vigorous in the truth you were taught. Let your lives overflow with thanksgiving for all he has done."
(Col 2:6,7 NLT)
