About a week ago I was asked to play for a wedding. the Bride's sister had a guitarist lined up but unfortunately he had to cancel. When I was contacted about the wedding it was with an email that read as though I'd already accepted the request and frankly I didn't know if I liked the situation. I was traveling to LA for 5 days and then had multiple rehearsals and a back to school night and all sorts of other things going on when I got back. The music that she was assuming I'd be able to play was for a legit classical guitar player and believe me.... I'm not "legit". I also realized that at this late date she'd have a hard time finding someone for the wedding so I agreed to play. I probably shouldn't have agreed to it considering my mind set. I was frustrated with the situation and sort of resentful that instead of asking me what I already had in repertoire, I was pretty much told what the pieces would be and I didn't have any sheet music for at least 4 of the pieces. I found music that would work so I spent Friday night putting music together. At the rehearsal I began to realized that I was very wrong in my attitude. The sister who booked me was sort of freaked out because she hadn't told her sister that she didn't have a guitarist and so the bride didn't know that there even was a challenge. Saturday morning I put some extra time in practicing and then applied some super glue to my shredded callouses. When the small wedding was over that afternoon I'd experienced a wonderful event that showed me that for all my fuss and frustration about playing at the last second, I gained an opportunity to become a better guitar player and I was able to witness God's ongoing creation of family. I left very happy to have been involved. Music ministry is a gift not of me to the world, but of God to me.
Have a great week,
Perry
Psalm 54; The Lord Upholds My Life 25th Sunday (sheet music link)