So, obviously I have taken an unintentional sabbatical from blogging for the month of October, and some of November. Lame, I know.
To make amends I will give an overview of what you missed (that’s why you came isn’t it?)
And in tribute to a growing trend on my blog, I will do this in multiple posts (part 1, 2, etc.)
En Fuego (That’s Spanish for, “On Fuego”) – This is the leadership retreat that I take the 7th and 8th grade students from church on every year. (Rather, they go every year. This is only my second time. I wonder what threshold you have to pass to be comfortable saying you do something every year/month/day. Three repetitions? Four? Definitely not two.)
I had a stretching weekend because I had to lead worship for the first time since I started working at HHBC and I had to lead three times during the weekend. It was like Chinese water torture on my fingertips (from the guitar strings). It’s okay if you think, “Hey, I had no CLUE Micah could sing! Or play the guitar… or lead worship in any kind of competent manner (a claim which I have not made).” None of the students had any idea that I lead worship either. They were, in unison, shocked. I guess they haven’t yet picked up on that whole hippy rock-star vibe I’ve been pushing out… strange that…
The weekend was great. I think the kids learned a bit (largely because Pierson taught two of the sessions for me), and some of them grew alot as well. For me, leading worship stands out for the simple reason that I was forced to do something which, five or six years ago, was a huge part of my life, but has since fallen to a passing hobby. In high school and in college I lead worship as often as I could, and at some points three times a week. I almost took a job at a church leading worship (I don’t think I’d have like it). At one time early in college I was saving up to record songs with a friend of mine to put out as a single – a prospect which seems both preposterous and unappealing now.
This has captured my attention because it means that I have changed… significantly. I have morphed. If my persona five years ago could have been represented in a physical manifestation and compared to who I am today, the resemblance would be familiar, but hardly identifiable.
This idea has set me to pondering. My goals in life have gone largely unchanged in the past five to ten years. Some have become more focused, for instance, I now know the wife and child to whom I strive to be committed and to love, while I hadn’t met either of them before (but nonetheless it was my goal to love them well). Some peripheral goals have been (thankfully) abandoned (the whole CD single idea). But in large, my purposes and goals have remained unaltered, but perhaps refined.
I used to casually regret that I don’t lead worship often any longer. Now I think I can find some joy knowing that my hobbies/activities/service have become less “full’, while my life has become more “fulfilling”. I am more focused on pursuing what I believe God has called me to do (Revealing the truth), while I am less extended into other (still worthwhile) things.
I love that I had a chance to serve in leading worship for so many years. The thought of doing so occaisionally is still appealing to me. But in large, I am content to look back at that with nostalgia, and no remorse for having left it behind. I pray that God will remain faithful in refining me and removing the dross of my life and I will be continually resurrected with increasing purity.
