but seriously, folks

Wow. That’s the first post title to not have a song lyric in months. I feel a little discarded, like a pity prom date or Gary Coleman.

Last night we had band practice for Elevate. Kind of. The band was really coming together, but then for some reason as soon as the singers showed up we took a collective poop and basically hacked our way through the rest of rehearsal. Maybe it was the lack of PA to guide us (the lack of a link here is intentional) but we were on a collaborative brain fart for most of practice. Here’s the part I love, however. The “point,” if you will: practice was awesome. I don’t feel like we wasted any time or beat any dead horses, I feel like not having PA (linkless) there challenged us to get things done without needing someone to wipe our hieneys , plus having Mark run rehearsals is always a blast (partly because he’s a genius, partly because he’s a fun guy.) And most of all, I had a great time being there. It was fun. Playing on the same team as Mark and Josh = good times + a whole lot of good-natured ribbing (that’s church-speak for mercilessly mocking someone for playing a bad chord. It’s fantastic.) It reminded me that worship isn’t just something I do out of obligation, nor is it this solemn religious undertaking. It is the thing that, to quote from Hoshi, “makes me pound my fist on the table.” It is the calling on my life, and it’s also my passion. I love doing it. I love being a part of it. It’s my favorite, favorite thing in the world. To answer Judi, it’s the thing I couldn’t go a week without. I’m a worship junkie. Now, I imagine this post could bring about lots of negativity: “Why do you need the band/music to worship?” Well, I suppose to a narrow mind that would ask such questions, I don’t. But God has given us the gift of music and commanded us to worship Him with it, so call it my obedient response. “I think you take worship far too lightly, what with all your joshing (seaning?) around and horseplay.” Nowhere in the bible does it tell us to worship with fallen heads gazing at our sad shoes, or that having fun and worship are to be kept at all times separate. To me, joy and worship are mutually inclusive. When the presence of God meets our humanity like a sloppy wet kiss, joy can be the only genuine response. I take worship more seriously than anything in  my life, probably to a fault at times (case in point: my bedroom.) But getting to sing songs and have God himself come and dance with us in our midst? Why wouldn’t that make me feel and act happier than any human before me? All this to say that band practice was awesome. Thanks for your time.