Post-Christmas Flu

For many who work in ministry, Christmas day is spent with a fever and other miserable symptoms of flus and colds. Although i was not sick this Christmas 2008, many other Christmases have been spent all wrapped in blankets, drugged up on Theraflu. We ride an adrenaline rush between Thanksgiving and Christmas, creating the joy of the season for others. Then we collapse with exhaustion when it's time to celebrate the Birth of Hope.
I remember the fervor in the church of my youth. "Christmas eve might be the only time these folks are in here all year, so we better save 'em while we got 'em." They think that cramming the entire Passion and Easter story into Christmas is their responsibility; the kid's not even weaned before we're brutally beating him and nailing him to a cross. Instead of using the season to celebrate the light of Christ, born as a human baby, we use the day to proselytize to our captive audience.
I don't think that this "trap 'em & convert 'em" method of evangelism is in keeping with the way in which Jesus lived his life. Of course, Jesus had the "big picture" in mind, but he also savored moments breaking bread with his friends, welcoming children to set examples for grownups, heal sick hearts and minds and bodies, and redeem the world into which he had been born, one life at a time. Celebrating his birth is emotional enough; think about the mixed emotions that come with a baby's birth! I'm not a mom, so i can only imagine the joy and terror, enthusiasm and exhaustion. The baby Jesus invites us to pause in awe and wonder; our invitation to follow his example is down the road a piece.
I've decided to make a list of the things that i want to do differently next year during Advent and Christmas. I'm going to put the list on my calendar for next year on November 1 (the day after Halloween, AKA "All Saints' Day”), with a reminder from both Outlook AND my Gmail calendar. It will be called "A season of Health and Wholeness." I will live in the moment with the "big picture" in mind.
In the present, as we nurse our tired spirits and cluttered minds, we are invited to join the celebration at a less-than-fever-pitch. Let's breathe for a moment; listen to our bodies and obey them. We let the joy of Christ's birth in our world sink deeply into our bones and give thanks.
Peace!

Triple Threat

Both of my professional worlds are in a frenzy this time of year. Students are taking exams and performing juries and completing registration for next year at SU. The musicians and worship leaders are practicing diligently for the high point of the Christian year: Christmas. Naturally, my thoughts are on the anxiety of those performing Chrismas Cantatas and Concerts (myself included), those who are trying to get their best work on paper for a professor's critique and evaluation, those who need that perfect class to complete their resumes for grad school or their professional lives... you name it. Amid all of the high anxiety, i have heard over and again, "I don't care anymore; i just want this to be OVER!"

Yet we must care. When we are finishing up our work to turn in, we must keep in perspective that our ideas will not only be graded, but also have the power to shape our future thinking. When we rehearse our music or movement or lines or whatever we may be preparing to perform, we must think of the end result: those who will listen and watch and be touched by the performances they will observe.

In musical theater, we call a performer a "triple threat" when she or he is a great singer, dancer AND actor. You know, for most of us, we have our ONE strong area, maybe two if we're lucky, and audition anyway, in hopes our strength(s) will carry (or drown out) the others. Each music director prays for those couple of voices, while the choreographer prays for those few movers and dancers, while the director prays for that handfull of actors, who will truly bring the show to life. Audition anxiety of both auditioner and auditionee is often tremendously high.

I think that there are Triple Threat criteria for church choirs. Churches always think they need choirs, whether or not they have a bunch of singers who can carry a tune in a bucket. So church choirs obviously must celebrate a variety of gifts, including but not limited to great singing.

I think the Triple Threat choir sings its repertoire with artful beauty -- we don't all have to be the Morman Tabernacle Choir, but some musicality is nice. It also delivers its music with genuine joy. It's not a requirement to "smile big" every moment, since many songs our choirs sing convey messages that aren't jubilantly happy. Finally, it sings music that authentically (or as authentically as it can) teaches us something about the vastness of God. Of course, many conductors have "favorite" composers, and with good reason. But when other composers are featured, they are presenting styles of many, many cultures. As The Choir, it is our responsibility to tell of God's goodness in the many diverse ways in which we know God from our neighbors near and far.

It's not easy to do all of these things while worrying about the many logistical factors that should be secondary. But it's worth a try. And the effect on those performing and those listening has the power to change lives. As an audience member or congregant, do you ever leave a performance more stressed than you were when you arrived because these elements are vehemently lacking? I have!

I will look for, and strive to lead, the Triple Threat groups to ease my anxiety during this stressful season.
1. Artful Beauty
2. Genuine Joy
3. Authentic Reflection of God
It is my prayer that this season's hope and joy bring deep peace to our spirits as we go about the business of meaning-making.