Penalty!

We've all had our share of incidents in our lives when we look back and say,"I shouldn't have done that." I had one this past Sunday. I was scheduled to play the offertory piece on the trumpet, and I had selected a hymn that wasn't too difficult. Anyone who has heard me play solos in church knows I prefer to play slow, gentle music as opposed the typical trumpet fanfare. This time was no exception, so I approached the situation with a "business as usual" attitude.

A wrench got thrown into the plan a couple of days prior to my solo, when my 3-year-old son got overly excited and rammed his head straight into my mouth. My bottom lip was swollen and bleeding for a while after that. If you've ever tried to play a brass instrument with an injured lip, you know it can be difficult and painful. I waited a day or two for the swelling to subside, then I picked up the horn to see if I'd be able to get through it. There was minimal pain, but there also wasn't quite enough sensation to be able to tell what I was doing. Still, I figured that I've done this enough to be able to get by. It's only a few minutes' worth of playing anyway, right?

Sunday morning, the piano intro played, my mouth went to the horn, and...BRAP! False start! Oh sure, I recovered well enough to at least make the piece recognizable, but I considered the overall performance to be a train wreck. I'm my own worst critic when it comes to performance, so regardless of how many "good job" comments I received that day, I assumed everyone was just being generous. For the record, I've rarely (if ever) been able to take a compliment well.

I believe that the Lord was demonstrating my fallibility before everyone to teach me a lesson. He was reminding me that I should never approach any task with a nonchalant attitude. I should never settle for just muddling through and hoping it all works out. He reminded me that I wasn't playing for me or for any other sinful human being; I was playing for Him. Whatever I do for Him, I know that I am expected to give my very best effort. Instead, I took things for granted.

Father, thank You for keeping me humble. Thank You for reminding me that I should never take any gift You have given me for granted, because I know that everything I have can be taken away in an instant.

Hmm...Perhaps it's time I read the book of Job again.

"Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God." - 1 Corinthians 10:31

"And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him." - Colossians 3:17