Singing My Part

I had a revelation a few Sundays ago as I worshiped standing next to the Hubs. Something has changed over the years, most unexpectedly. There is beauty to be heard in harmony that there isn’t in sameness. But most of us can’t find the harmony because we lack the essential element necessary. #confidence #ChristianBlog

When I was in High School, I was in Choir. For the most part, I loved it. We sang some beautiful songs that I still hum today. My favorite was Mozart’s Lacrimosa. I love to sing, but I always struggled with insecurities about my voice. I was placed in the alto section, but my insecurities constantly had me slipping onto the tenor, soprano and even bass parts! 

I was always so glad when I was seated directly in front of Karrie McCullough. She was probably the strongest alto in the section and she was so confident. If I sat in front of her, she would drown out the other parts for me and I could hear and sing the alto harmony. Heaven forbid I was ever separated from her during a concert. Between the nerves and the starched white blouse itching my neck, I would end up mouthing more words than I sang. 

Fast forward a {few} years… 

I’ve been married to the most wonderful man in the world for a long time now. He can sing, but his range is about five notes, bless him. So, when I’m trying to worship next to him in church and he is constantly trying to find an octave that works for him, it used to really throw me off. But after so many years of standing at his shoulder in church services, I have developed something I didn’t have in High School: The ability to shut out what is being sung around me and sing my own song. 

Community is important. Having others to lean on and who can lean on you is life-giving. But often, being the humans we are, we can turn that essential of community into comparison and competition. We find ourselves trying to sing someone else’s part in the song. God loves individuality apparently. He made each of us so unique and yet we chase after sameness and uniformity. 

But let me tell you something right now: You are unique for a reason. The world needs you to be you, not a clone. We need you to fill the space that is left empty without you. What you bring to the table doesn’t need to be what everyone wants or needs. It needs to be true to the person God made you to be. 

I will sing my own song, though my part is not yours. I will allow others to challenge and encourage me further in my song, but I will choose to not compare or compete. I will celebrate the beauty of what you are called to sing without feeling threatened at the differences. I won’t allow the beauty of what you’re singing to pull me off what I am to sing. Let’s each sing our own parts and let the beauty of the harmony ring! 

“For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.” Ephesians 2:10

For more on seeking the Lord for “One Word” of direction, click HERE!