I own a very nice Remo djembe drum. It is one of my favorite "things." I researched months online looking at different brands, sizes and styles before making the decision to buy it. I felt like a kid on Christmas morning when it arrived and I quickly ordered kid versions for the boys so we could have our own little drum circle. I had played in college with friends’ drums and always wanted one. Now that I owned one it made me happy, but it did not instantly make me a percussionist. I am a drum owner, not a musician. I would liken it to the fact that I own a car, but I am not a professional driver. It gets me where I need to be and historically I am a fairly proficient driver, but I am not about to step into a Formula One race car. I am perfectly OK with my amateur status as a drummer. I am satisfied to be an appreciator of music, not necessarily a performer.
Then came Noel, the man, not the Holiday. Granted it is that time of year. Noel came to our church this past summer as our new worship leader. A ball of creative energy and musical ability he breathed new life into the worship services with upbeat song choices and contemporary arrangements, and the passion of youthful enthusiasm (he was fresh from the campus). The fact that he is not only a talented musician, but a heck of a nice guy just added to my appreciation of our new worship dude. So much so that after one of the first services he was involved with I felt the need to approach him afterward and complement him on it. This led to a conversation about music, music styles, energy…and somehow about djembe drums. I remember specifically telling him that I owned one should he ever need to use one in his arrangement of a song. I also remember telling him I couldn't play it very well. Apparently that part didn’t “stick”.
I got a call from Noel this fall; he wanted to borrow the drum for some acoustic songs he was going to be performing at an upcoming service. I was excited to put the drum into service. I was disappointed when I found out that he couldn’t talk the normal drummer into trying to play it. It sat in his office for 2 and a half months. I missed my drum.
Last week I got an email from Noel asking if I was willing to play on a few songs on an upcoming Sunday, this coming Sunday to be exact. I have no idea what came over me. I don’t know if it was Christmas spirit, guilt in knowing that he had wanted to have someone play it a few months back and it never happened, or maybe someone put something funny in my coffee that morning, but I said yes. I started sweating almost immediately after hitting send. I had not even seen my drum since September. I have never played in front of anyone aside from my own kids or a bunch of hippies back in college. I have never played along with a song in the comfort and anonymity of my own home, let alone along with a live band in front of an audience…at church. What in the world did I get myself into?
Band practice was this past Wednesday. I showed up with my drum and a bunch of butterflies. I played along with the songs and just tried to keep up. My hands seemed like bricks attached to the end of my arms. I suddenly had all the rhythm of a lump of coal falling down the steps. Not pretty. Noel was gracious. He spent some time afterward with me. It didn’t really help. My hands just won’t do what my inner Rasta tells them to. Sunday is going to be very interesting indeed. Thank goodness this Sunday is also the children's musical presentation. Maybe I won't look AS foolish in light of the other entertainment.
The “make a joyful noise unto the Lord” thing is all relative right?...I mean what’s joyful to one may seem like the awkward beats of a man with no rhythm right?!?
I am nervous, and a little scared. I have never heard anyone boo’d off stage at church. I just keep telling myself that I am a willing servant and I am going to play my best for Him.
I have no talent to bring pa rum pa pum pum….that’s fit to give our King, pa rum pa pum pum, rum pa pum pum….rum pa pum pum….
RHYTHM....from the time you were little you've had it....Grandpa & I both recall you dancing to the music at the Best store, uninhibited, like Greyson does now. Let your natural rhythm take over as it did as a child...I promise, you've got it. Looking forward to the Christmas Program. Hopefully the snow holds off!
ReplyDeleteThe services went really well, surprisingly enough. I had a blast. It was cool to play with a manger set up at the corner of the stage. I just focused on that and really felt like the little drummer boy!
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