I just got back from breakfast with my men's small group. I love these guys because they challenge me to be a better dad, husband, co-worker, friend... a better man. I am so much more "aware" of the decisions that I am making throughout the week because of my time with these guys.
Well... this morning... I shared with them how I am feeling sort of "distracted"at this time in my life. Distracted by details... expectations... and evaluations. Now don't get me wrong... I realize the importance of all of these things. Details are super important. People have expectations of us that we need to be aware of... and work towards meeting every day
(The realistic ones... that is.). And evaluation is an important part of our process at NewPointe. It is crucial to growth and improvement with anything that we do.
It's just that... sometimes I find myself so focused on "How I should do it" that I can't seem to just relax... and DO IT.
Do you remember a TV commercial
(I can't even remember the product) where the guy is talking himself through all of the "mechanics" of swinging his golf club? As he stands on the tee box... and goes through the long list of things that he has been taught... computer generated reminders pop up all around him. By the time he's ready to swing... he can hardly see the fairway for these visual reminders.
Well... that's what I feel like right now. It is so hard to focus on the "main thing" because of all of the details going through my mind. Here's what it's like:
Sunday mornings... before we go on stage:
"OK... so on the first song... it's 4 clicks and 4 sticks to start".
"Let's see... was it CAPO 3... or 4 on that third tune?"
"Song #1 is on Protools
(drummer starts it)... song #4 is an Igniter video
(control room starts it)""What is that tempo on the closer again?"
"Hey guys... don't forget to repeat that one phrase on the prechorus."
While I'm out there:
"Augh! I forgot to tell the control room to correct that one word in the second verse."
"Is it just me... or is my guitar out of tune?"
"Are people really connecting with this song?"
"I sure hope we hit that "stop-down" together."
"Oh. man... here comes that really high note!"
"I wonder where April's taking me for lunch today?"
(Oh come on... don't you judge me! You've been there!) There are so many things that go through my mind as I am preparing to lead worship.... and all of this "stuff" can be a distraction when it comes to actually leading.
A friend
of mine (Who is also a worship leader) was just telling me how he has to pull away from his team and be alone with God just before he steps out on the stage to lead. He talked about how it "centers" him and helps him to focus on God... and not all of the details. It makes total sense.... but how often do we actually have that opportunity? Our Service Programming team "circles up" and prays before every service. It is one of my favorite moments of the morning. We talk about the importance of our ministry and the effect that it will have on a lot of folks who are searching for Christ at NewPointe this morning. We ask God to come and anoint what we are about to do... and there is always this "WOW! We get to do this!" moment before we step out on the stage. But there is rarely enough time to get alone and "focus" before going out.
Well... I MADE TIME yesterday morning... and it worked!
There was a scene in the movie, "For Love Of The Game" where Billy Chapel
(played by Kevin Costner) plays his last game as a professional baseball pitcher... and as he steps to the mound... he takes in all of what surrounds him
(the fans, the players, the field, the smells, the lights, everything) and soaks it all in. From there... he focuses in on his catcher and the distance between him and the plate. At that time... he tells himself to “clear the mechanism”, and one by one, each disturbance around him clears out so the only thing left is a “tunnel” from his glove to the catcher.
That is what I experienced yesterday morning. Stepping away from everything for just a little while... and asking God to "clear the mechanism"... and centering on Him before I went out on the stage... changed everything for me. I wasn't as concerned about "what people were thinking"... about the road maps, click tracks, lights, or being evaluated... I was ready to worship. As much as I love being with my team
(I've got an amazing team!)... and the camaraderie that we experience backstage before a service... I think that "time alone with God"
(for all of us) is going to have to be a priority... to stay focused on "the main thing".
