A few nights ago, I came across a casual statement from a fourteen year old worship keyboardist that carried such otherworldly conviction. It seemed that Holy Spirit was quite present as he said so surely with childlike simplicity and in an “obviously” tone that of course it was the Lord’s will for me to play drums for Sunday services at wherever I made my home church to be back home. I had played for a little bit on the drum set in the sanctuary as these worship regulars were showing us newcomers the ropes at our new ministry site this month in Jordan, and I had been able to share a bit about the eight years I had devoted to percussion. First of all, there was something on this kid, as he claimed to have only played piano for a year but he was utterly brilliant on it. So I was very convinced that whatever he had to say probably would end up being pretty darn inspired as well. He pointed out with very logical reasoning that I had practiced all those years and had indeed put in the work. It is the Lord’s calling that I should use what I’d been trained in and worked at to serve, that it should not be affected by a congregation’s opinion or a pastor’s opinion, whatever it may be. I should get that opportunity to serve. It is just so ironic that I had to come to a Middle Eastern country, where women are often unfortunately oppressed, to hear encouragement for me to drum for worship from a Jordanian worship team member. It was never that I was deprived of the opportunity to play drums back at home for church necessarily, but I had come to notice that it had become a self-imposed suppressed ability and passion over the years – that even after I began my Christian walk, a lie had somehow crept in, amidst all the true redemption work of the Lord and truly realigned priorities in life, saying that I still needed to cater to what people in whatever circle I was in would approve of. Sure, Jesus is real and is my savior, but I still wasn’t comfortable in my own skin – I was still trying to figure out what truly walking with the Lord looked like. Becoming Christian was both a real work that the Lord had done in my heart but the fleshly, human part of me was still busy operating with its performance mentality and essentially looking for salvation through man’s approval. And it wasn’t until the World Race that I really felt like I was coming into my element, being exactly who God created me to be and being able to truly and simply just be myself – as my new squadmates had so wonderfully championed and helped me fight for.
Drumming for the squad as well as for the Tyre Church music program while serving in Lebanon had been one of the most rewarding things for me so far on the World Race. Tutoring percussion students in Lebanon had truly been such a joy, and such a natural way for me to share Jesus both by spurring others on in creative endeavors, fueling a passion for music and also by sharing the message of the salvation He offers. Playing the bongos and the doumbek for worship for the squad and for Tyre Church worship had been one of my favorite vehicles for connection with my squad mates and the ministry hosts. There’s nothing like watching each other for build ups and breaks, and being in sync while inviting in the presence of the Holy Spirit.
If anything, my relationship with drumming gave me a microcosmic look at what happens when one operates purely with eyes looking at Jesus and paying attention only to what He has created me to be. I need only to stay in His will and opportunities which often are so potent with potential for His presence and for the growth of His kingdom will arise. I’ve come to realize that God’s path is a nuanced path, and is cultivated out of a deep intimacy with Him and within a community of Spirit-led believers. There are so many opinions of man which can mislead, that if we take our eyes off of Him, we can easily miss the boat.
