On Performing

I know I'm not the only one out there who does a lot of performing at Christmastime.  You know the routine...schedule concerts, gigs, or what have you.  (Or be sure you know the dates of the ones previously scheduled).  Practice your music enough to get by with grace.  Dress up in concert black, or black and white, or your new best shirt with that black skirt (again), or whatever the occasion merits.  Pull together music.  Grab waterbottle.  Run out the door, hopefully a little ahead of schedule.  Smile, be civil and conversational, and play or sing for people.  

Earlier this year I was introduced to the music of Andrew Peterson.  I don't like all of it, but some of his songs are really great.  One that I particularly enjoy is Many Roads from his new release Counting Stars.  It's about performing, about the interesting relationship between the performer and the audience:

Could it be that the many roads

You took to get here

Were just for me to tell this story

And for you to hear this song

And your many hopes 

And your many fears

Were meant to bring you here all along.

I love the reminder that wherever we find ourselves performing, it's a place to which God has brought us.  I also had to smile at his take on the responsibility we have:

So if you'll trust me with your time I'll use it wisely

I will sing to you with all I have to give

If you traveled all this way, then I will do my best to play

My biggest hits (that don't exist)

And if you'll lend to me your ear I'll sing 'em pretty

I will never, ever sing them out of tune

And I will not forget the words 

of any chorus, bridge or verse

I promise you

But the best part, to me, was the little twist that the end takes:

How I love to watch you listen to the music

'Cause you sing to me a music of your own...

Could it be that the many roads

I took to get here

Were just for you to tell this story

And for me to hear this song

And my many hopes 

And my many fears

Were meant to bring me here all along.

It's true...not only do we minister to our audiences, they minister to us.  Through their listening, their acceptance, their little words of encouragement.  This song just helped to pull it all into perspective for me.