I'm reminded in Matthew 17 when Jesus, Peter, James and John were on the mountain and Moses and Elijah joined them. It was such a spiritual high that Peter offered to build them each a house right there on the mountain so they could stay and never have to go back down and deal with the mess of day-to-day life again.
It's tempting to want to live in the constant high of a Tulsa Workshop experience, but the ordinary, day-to-day life calls us back. And that's not a bad thing at all.
There is glory in the ordinary. 99.9% of the good we get to do is not done on a stage in front of thousands. It is done one-on-one. It is done in everyday circumstances. It is done with the sick, the hurt, and the broken. It is done through simple notes, phone calls and e-mails. It is done with hugs and handshakes, thoughtful questions and encouraging words. In those moments no one will be there to cheer us on. In fact, it is likely that no one will even notice. And that's all right, because we don't do it so that someone will notice. We do it for Him, not for the praise of man.
So, I'm reminding myself today to enjoy the Workshop moments, but not to try to dwell there. They are nice for the moment, but they are often not where real "rubber-meets-the-road" ministry lies. Lord willing, there will be another Workshop in 51 weeks, but I'm more looking forward to the journey of those 51 weeks rather than the next event at the end.
However, I'd be lying if I didn't tell you that it was an awful lot of fun to sing with Acappella...
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6 comments:
You're right....we must go back to reality. But wouldn't it be nice if we could always live on that spiritual high all the time?
I loved what you said about the ordinary - "It is done one-on-one. It is done in everyday circumstances. It is done with the sick, the hurt, and the broken. It is done through simple notes, phone calls and e-mails. It is done with hugs and handshakes, thoughtful questions and encouraging words." That sums up Jesus' ministry pretty well. One of the things that has impacted my understanding of Jesus was the realization of how many times he touched people. He had the power to heal them from a distance, but He made it personal by touching them. He would not allow any distance, physical or otherwise, to seperate Him from the people who needed Him. There's a great lesson in that!
You are right on Shane! Very important message.
But Acappella wants to know if you are ready to "hit the road?"
And there I thought they'd be saying, "Don't quit your day job."
From a slightly different slant, I find the workshop simply intense and multiplied reality. It's packed with obvious love, impactive singing, and grand reunion.....and Word explosion! The workshop, in essence, is our gathering what we do every day and put it together in a few large buildings. I'm sorta more tired, of course, but when we work in His kingdom we are constantly supplied by moments which give us a rush.
Shane, I am so proud of God for what I saw him do in you! Fabulous!
You are one of the ingredients that makes me celebrate at every assembly. I don't know if Memorial is like the workshop or if the workshop is like Memorial. Either way.....I celebrate!
I get to work on the staff where you are!
I'm jealous that you got to sing with Acappella... closest I get is to sing with Wes on the 3rd Sunday of every month. :-) But I'll take it. ;-)
What's reality?
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