Dingaling

One of my favorite joys is playing in our church handbell choir. Last night was our annual concert, wrapping things up until fall. No only did I get to play with our adult group, but I watched boys and girls and teenagers ring as well. Many of those children I had taught when they were younger, so it was like I got to see some of my own older "kids" playing music and leading in worship.

Our director told us that handbells are the only instrument that is played by multiple people at the same time. That's one thing I love about it - we have to work together as a team and listen to what's happening to create the music. I can bang along, just playing my bells at the appropriate time - but that will not contribute to creating music. I've got to blend with the other bells, making sure my part supports the melody or rings out if it is the melody.

Also, I like that when I make a mistake, it doesn't totally ruin the worship experience. Yes, a wrong bell will create a clash. But if everyone is continuing on (and I recover to continue on), then that mistake is swallowed with the rest of the music. I need to be prepared and I need to be accurate but a mistake isn't catastrophic. The support of others helps me move beyond my mistake. (Hmm, that's a metaphor for the church, isn't it?)

Being a part of the bell choir helps me be more than I am alone. I'm not a great ringer but I can get by in most situations. I can handle most techniques adequately and I'm getting better at contributing to the dynamics and overall music. But even if I play everything perfectly, my part is incomplete without the rest of the choir. With the rest of the players, I'm part of a greater whole, creating something more than a couple of notes ringing over and over.

I am so grateful for Linda (our wonderful director) and my fellow ringers. I love worshiping with you!

I hope my life can be like my bell playing. I hope I can join with the rest of my fellow church members and other Christians as a whole and make something greater than we ever could alone. That's when the joy comes. Working together - seeing the whole become worship for God and His glory.


P.S. Here's a video of us ringing, by Scott Etheridge.

Got Grouchy?

"Blessed are the grouchy for they will be reminded of the joys God has given."

This isn't a real verse but sometimes I need it to be one. I've been a little grouchy mood for the past week or so. (Cindy may need to offer rebuttal on the length of said mood.) Things are going well. I've caused myself some stress, but that's not new. Sometimes preschoolers act like...well, preschoolers...and that's not new either. A group of 500,000 people invade the city for the NFL draft - well, that is new but I can just stay away from that as much as possible.

Even the few things that are not well are fairly minor. So, why grouchy?

Mainly it's because I don't pay attention. If I start to complain online, I'm filled with thoughts about what is good or what things I have or how my complaint is so small in light of the rest of my life. I forget to look for the joys I have, the joys God has given. He reminds me.

I have to choose to pay attention, to see those joys. And, if I want to see the unjoys, complaints? They pop up in my vision with barely a thought. "I'm late on some work." (I have been given lots of paying work!) "I don't feel good." (I have a reason to sleep all day!) "I must drive downtown in this traffic." (I get to spend quality time with Cindy one-on-one in the car!)]

Feeling grouchy? I know there are often lots of good reasons for it. But look underneath. God has given a joy there if we'll just find it.

Something I Didn't Know I Needed

About a year ago, a friend asked me if I would be willing/interested in leading a music class for a homeschool co-op. While I've had some different experiences teaching and leading kids, this was something new for me. I try to be open to new things so I agreed.

And I immediately panicked inside. What would I do with the kids for an hour? How could I teach music when I'm not trained for that? And...lots of other things. But I took it one step at a time, found some resources, and begin to make a plan.

This week I completed the semester. This experience is something that I did not know I needed but I'm so grateful for doing it. I was reminded or relearned a few things during these classes.

• Kids are funny. I enjoyed each one of the kids in my music class. They were individual and interesting. They surprised me and challenged me. And they made me a better teacher.
• Fancy stuff isn't needed to teach. I did borrow some instruments from the church to use from time to time. But we used plastic cups and sand in bottles and wooden sticks with bells and paper with crayons to create different musical experiences.
• Sometimes you can joke around and be "one of the kids" and sometimes you gotta be the adult. Yes, I did use my stern voice a few times during the semester.
• Music is a great way to learn and greater when shared. If nothing else, I had an enjoyable time each week singing and moving and learning with boys and girls.
• I do have some teaching skills. Those took a beating a while back and it was good to see that I can indeed teach.
• It's always a good idea to try something new. Even if things don't work out, I can learn something.

I didn't know I needed this particular experience. But I did. And I get to do it again in the fall!

Fine Dining

Today I had a very important lunch meeting. I had lunch with one of the three-year-old classes. We compared lunch boxes. We compared lunches. We talked about things that had happened and people in our families. Someone offered me crackers from her lunch. (I declined but thanked her.) We talked about the music that was playing. We exchanged opinions.

"I like all the colors...except orange."
"Why don't you like orange?"
"I don't know. It's just a weird color."

Overall, I was treated like a VIP and welcomed into the class community - all at the same time.

One thing was interesting to me. All the conversations and the entire experience was positive. No complaining or negative talk. If we ventured into something negative ("I like peanut butter but not jelly"), it seemed to divert back into positive ("But, you know my brother? He likes peanut butter and jelly"). I didn't think about it at the time but every comment, every conversation was filled with excitement and joy.

I think we adults function in the opposite manner. Most of our casual conversations seem tinged with negativity--traffic is so bad, the workload is mighty, the weather is too (whatever). We may have positive things to mention but the complaints seem to prevail. (Note, I am the chief of offenders in this.)

Now I know that children are not always happy and joyful. But in many situations that is their default setting. Encountering something new or unusual or different, most children are curious and excited. Many adults, encountering something new or unusual or different, are suspicious and withdrawn. As we grow older, our overall approach seems to change from welcoming to weary.

Joy leaks out of preschool rooms and playgrounds. I hope that by spending some time with young children each week, I can move my default from weary complaint to welcoming excitement.

I am thankful that each week I get to see life from the young end of the spectrum.

Love Yourself

The other day a friend posted about choosing words carefully and the words we use can affect our attitudes. "I get to ..." gives a different attitude than "I have to...." I agree. Words are important and the words we choose impact what we think and what we feel. Several days later, I'm still thinking about that. Why? Because I'm the best as negative self-talk. "You are so dumb! Why can't you do things right? You talk too much. No one is interested in that." My mind is great at pulling up things to keep the ego in check (so to speak).

Of course, I have shortcomings and deficiencies. But I have good stuff, too. After all, Cindy chose to marry me and I think she has pretty high standards. (Ha!) So today - for my joy and thankfulness - I am going to appreciate who I am. (Warning: This may seem like a bragging post - so now's the time to bail. You've been warned.)

I'm a decent writer. I can put words together to create ideas and emotions. I communicate well through the written word. And people even pay me to do it.

I love to help others. I like to do those "behind the scenes" things. I like to stack chairs or file papers. I even once had fun helping to washing dishes at church after Wednesday night meal.

I enjoy making music. Playing handbells and singing in the church choir are two of my favorite things. And now I get to make music with young children weekly.

I was made to teach young children. I like having conversations with them and learning from them. I like talking to them about new things or their own ideas. I can be patient with their silliness and even add my own silliness to the mix at times. I love being with them and I think they like being with me.

Jesus said to love your neighbor as yourself. We are admonished to do both. Some easily love others but don't seem to like themselves much. Others focus on themselves and seem to dislike everyone else. We must do both.

Sorry for the ego trip in this post. But, too often I neglect to be thankful for who I am. I so often find myself wishing I was different (discontent!). So today I'm thankful for me, who I am and what I can do.