runaway trains

(originally posted 8/18)

runaway trains... I found myself on one of these Sunday morning.  A last minute thought to sing a small portion of "Enough" to end the worship set seemed like a good idea.  It started off fine, that is, while I simply played the guitar part... but when it was time to sing my brain couldn't figure out what key we were in!  A half step lower than normal should be easy enough to figure out, "just start singing, it'll come" said my brain... but as the lyrics emerged from my mouth it was quickly and painfully obvious that my brain was lying to me.  And there I stood, a conductor on my own runaway train, wondering how I could steer this thing back on course.  Awkward? yes. Scary? yup.  But then the congregation just started singing, like angels guiding the way, and worship quickly returned to its rightful place with God at the center.  So I thank you all for leading me in worship Sunday!  I hope moments like those are a rarity, but knowing you have my back sure makes it easier. 

 

Curious - have you found yourself on a runaway train before?  Were you aware of how God helped you regain control?  I'd love to hear your experiences... take a moment to share in the comment area.

Comments

[Chris Pendergraft]

As a guitar player on a worship team I too have been subject the the "Runaway Train" experience. It is a humbling one. It certainly reminds me of why I play. It is not for me, my pastor, my worship leader or my church, but for Him that I serve. Just this past Sunday we were playing a brand new song by Matthew West, "Speak to Me" is the name...I think. Anyway it was in Ab, and as you know us guitar players love that key. So I used a capo. The problem...I was distracted by my monitor mix and forgot to put on the capo. It was apparent there was somthing terribly wrong when I strumed the first chord. Fortunatly I was not the only one playing and I quickly corrected my mistake. By then the train was already speeding down the track.

[mitch]

ah yes... how many times has the capo been our grace and our downfall. I especially love it when the worship leader forgets and you have no choice but to stop the song and try again... and there is no mistaking who was at fault (that'd be me). Very humbling indeed.

[Josiah]

I must say that my runaway train has sailed off track many a time, but God is always faithful. We look forward to when we can come and visit/worship with you. Keep the blogs comin!

[Darlene]

This past May, my dad was dying. It really started sometime around Christmas, but the month of May was the last of it. I went to the hospital every day to be with him and my mom, watching him leave and thinking I could do something to stop it. Surely I should be able to stop this, surely if I were there and were just paying enough attention, I would be see what needed to be done. For a long time, I didn't realize he really was dying.......but he knew. And, he talked about his Father and talked to Him. God didn't stop the train, I couldn't stop it. I found out after Dad had died and we were talking to the folks at his church (a really small, country church where he had been baptized as a child so many years ago) that my Dad, my Southern Baptist conservative Dad, would sometimes wave his hands in the air when a song touched his soul. They sang "Days of Elijah" for the funeral. I was so disappointed with God for letting us down, for taking Dad. But, Dad wasn't. Sometimes God doesn't stop the runaway train, sometimes you just have to hang on for dear life and know that He is not letting you go.

[mitch]

Darlene,
That is a beautiful way to view the hardship you went through, I am so happy you can see God in the midst of your pain. At a recent funeral, a minister reminded us of the dueling emotions we experience in a loss such as yours, and how it is ok to feel them both. Pain in the loss having a loved one near, but joy in knowing they have been made whole again and surrounded by happiness with their Savior.

I will pray for you. May you feel this wonderful presence of God with you always.