A few days ago I posted the final segment of my talk for our church's "Alpha" course on prayer. Alpha is a worldwide instructional series that we have been doing at our church for many years. I have been through the course myself and have given some of the talks in the series over the years. This year I was asked if I would be the lay leader. That involves putting a team of people together that lead small group discussions after the talk each night and a few other duties.
The course each week includes a dinner, babysitting for children of all ages (usually with some instructional/activity-based process for them while the parents are pre-disposed), some music/singing component, a talk and then the small group discussion centered around the talk topic.
Aside from the organization aspect, my own involvement is playing the guitar (along with a good friend) to lead the song segment, a mandatory joke or two to lighten-up the group, and then introduction of the speaker for the evening. On four of the nine meetings I have been asked to provide the talk.
The guitar part has been an emotional challenge for me. Last year my friend (Bob) and I were asked if we would play and lead the song segment. When asked I said' "Yes, if Bob will." When the priest asked Bob a few days later he said, "Yes, if Ned will." So that was that. We played and lead. Bob and I met each week on Sunday or Monday nights to figure out what we could play and sing, then assembled a songbook for the participants and did the deal.
Its a bit easier this year since we have the songbook already and we've "done the gig" before. We might be better at it this year. Plus, I actually have developed a bit of "a voice" which will come as a surprise to some of you who know me well. Secretly I am John Fogerty's mini-me. But that's a real big secret .. maybe it could be classified as a wish. As in, "you wish." Chump.
My anxiety around playing the guitar and leading song is that, while I did that a time or two in high school, all my playing has been strictly for my own consumption at home and without singing. I do not carry a tune well in voice and have a small portion of a "musical ear" with which to draw from. So really I am best left alone in the man-cave with my guitar to romanitize and fantasize how good I am. Look out CCR and the Stones.
I can give a speech in front of thousands and have done that many times without a nerve, but playing the guitar in front of a few dozen people is a scary event for me. That is really outside the comfort zone for me. Mmmm, no. But its working so far and no one has laughed or walked out on us because of the music.
I gave the talk on prayer Wednesday night of this week. It went off about like I had planned. Speakers are not to use a script in this. While I did have my talk written out word for word I also had an outline and I used that. My fear with an outline is that I'll transgress into a lengthy tangent and forget where and why I was going there. "Happens all the time" - to quote the insurance lady on tv.
The talk went well.
Here's the punch line:
I belong to a golf club - probably the least expensive private club in the city. The intiation fee is a one-time deal of $1,000. Annual dues are $800. Then you pay to play at a very low rate each time out.
We don't have the $800 just sitting around the house. In fact, my wife told me that "in truth" she couldn't understand how I could justify the expense given I could play at a public course for a good bit less money. In my mind I am involved in a much better deal, play with established guys that know me and are "buddies" and do not have to put up with "the public" golfers who can be kind of frustrating as they scratch around the course.
Yesterday we got a check for over $900 in the mail. I had said a prayer asking that if I could/should be playing golf at my club going forward that it be made clear to me in some way. My wife had said the same thing in prayer. When we opened the envelope and saw the check, we knew what it was. Totally unexpected source and amount. Everybody had some tears and a whole lot of appreciation for how God really does take care of His children.
Its an excess to some and a drop-in-the-bucket to others. To me it is another year of my major exercise and sports activity in my life. It is also a clear and present proof that God answers prayer. Go back and read the talk I wrote. And pray. He does listen no matter what the topic. You need to ask.
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