That's Even More Alarming!

Of the many things I have done, one I am very proud of is my service in the Navy. I am sure you are familiar with the term "cuss like a sailor".  Well let's just say I have those tools in my belt, but I just choose not to use them on a daily basis. And yet, every now and then when I reach for a pair of pliers I grab the wire cutters.  Such was the case last week as I was trying to sight-sing a part for our Christmas Cantata. That means I had not rehearsed the part but was reading the music and trying to sing based on my reading.  Our Bass singers were having a difficult time hearing their part so I decided to sing their part on a CD so they could study it. With great technology I can fix all my mistakes so I sang the entire piece then went back to fix bad notes. I did this upstairs in the production room at church. A quiet small room with a microphone, headphones, and the music in front of me. Frustration set it as a couple lines were a bit out of my range but I plowed through with several takes of the same sentence.

If a tree falls and nobody is there to hear it....Oh yes it makes the noise.   I figure I am in my own little world recording.  Here is an approximate transcript of a few parts. Sung: "O come, O come Emmanuel, and ransom captive Israel".  Mumbled: "oh dammit, ugh, crap...alright this time I will get it..." 

As you can see, I have removed all the tools from my belt that can hurt someone. All that is left are a few common sharp objects, nothing alarming in every day usage, but when a church music director uses them; well, I was a sailor again.  On this particular day, our fire alarm installers were working throughout the building. No big deal, I am in the production room on headphones. On a break I hear our assistant Pastor say to me; "The alarm guys like your version of those songs, especially the cussing." That's right. The speakers were on downstairs very loud, blaring my singing and mumbling for all to hear.

That pastor always signs his emails "with grace and certain hope." In this time of holiday cheer, there is great hope.  I hope God smiles at my stories. I hope His grace for the human race extends to me.  With grace and certain hope!