Wednesday, May 17, 2006

Violinist/Worshiper

My wife Stephanie is a violinist and in the past has been a part of several orchestra's. Through years of training and experience, being a violinist has become part of who she is. She understands her own abilities and weaknesses and she understands her role in the orchestra.

When the piece they are playing is not her favorite, she plays.

When the conductor is old and his baton is shaky, she plays.

When others around her are not prepared, she plays.

When she is playing in a huge symphony hall, she plays.

When she is playing for our family after dinner, she plays.

When she is the most talented player on the stage, she plays.

When she is the least talented player on the stage, she plays.

You see, she's a violinist, she plays the violin. It's what she does. It's who she is.

I think that is why she understands so well what it means to be a worshiper. I've worshiped with her in all sorts of settings with organs, hand bells, bluegrass bands, rock bands and acappella. In Lutheran churches, Baptist churches, Assembly of God churches, church of Christ churches, community churches, backyards, log cabins and living rooms. Through years of training and experience, being a worshiper has become part of who she is. She understands her own abilities and weaknesses and she understands her role in worship.

When the song is not her favorite, she worships.

When the worship leader is old and stodgy or young and screamy, she worships.

When others around her are disruptive, she worships.

When she is in a beautiful cathedral, she worships.

When she is in the woods or on the beach or in an ugly 1960's church of Christ box, she worships.

When the notes are flat and so is her mood, she worships.

When she's not sure what part to sing, she worships.

You see, she's a worshiper, she worships. It's what she does. It's who she is.

9 Comments:

At 4:49 PM, Blogger Donna G said...

I envy her focus...

 
At 5:54 PM, Blogger Matt McBryde said...

Great post.

I second DJG's comment.

M@

 
At 6:49 PM, Blogger Amy C said...

What a great comparison. We should all be such seasoned worshippers! God deserves that.

 
At 4:08 PM, Blogger Shanta said...

Excellent analogy!

 
At 10:13 PM, Blogger Craig said...

What a great description of a worshiper, especially when contrasted with consumers who demand a worship experience that satisfies them.

 
At 10:14 PM, Blogger judy thomas said...

I love this one--I wish I could say the same thing about myself.

 
At 9:05 AM, Blogger Lovell's Lookout said...

Pure Greatness Mr. BAiley. Pure Greatness. ( I just watched the Matrix on DVD last night)

P.S. How did Bailey4 do at the tourney?

 
At 9:41 AM, Blogger Stephen Bailey said...

Golf Update for Ty: We quickly went 2 under and then bogeyed 8 and 9 to fall back to even. On the back, we scrambled our way into 2 more birdies and finished 2 under. Rose made par on one par 3 all by herself (we used all three of her shots) and bailed us out off the tee box a couple of times. It was fun.

 
At 9:18 AM, Blogger John Bailey said...

Stephen, take good care of that girl! We desperately need her in our family.

 

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