Fail Better
You know that feeling you get when you sing a song perfectly and you can hear choirs of angels in the background and everyone is amazed by your vocal prowess?
Ok, so this is not a story about that feeling. This is about the complete opposite.
If you've been a singer for any length of time, you know exactly what I'm talking about. That note at the very top of your range that you can absolutely nail to the wall on a good day and can't touch with a ten foot pole on a bad day.
That note.
Most people have sense enough to stay away from it. They avoid songs because of it.
Unfortunately, I'm not one of those people. I really thought I could do it today. I was utterly and completely wrong. The spirit was willing, but the flesh was weak and forgot it is recovering from a sore throat.
The problem is that, as a worship leader, there's nowhere to hide when you miss that note. It is a spectacularly epic fail when you miss it. In that moment, you have a choice. You can finish the song and remind yourself that at least you aren't Fergie butchering "The Star Spangled Banner" on national TV - not to mention Facebook and YouTube, for all eternity. You can say that at least you were brave and tried, which is more than a lot of people are willing to do. You can think to yourself that things like that are good for you because they help keep your ego in check.
Or, you can have a colossal meltdown and tantrum because things didn't go your way and you're embarrassed.
I'll be honest - my first reaction is nearly always the meltdown. It doesn't help and I don't recommend it. Has it been hard today to not think about how many people said on the drive home, "Can you believe how bad she sounded today? Whew, we may have to change churches!"? Oh my goodness, yes it was. No one obsesses about mistakes better than I do. But, I can guarantee you that, unless I'm willing to quit singing altogether, it's probably going to happen again at some point.
We have to accept that failure is a part of living and being human. You can either let it break you and make you miserable. Or, you can learn to fall gracefully and fail better the next time. It's tremendously hard to put yourself out there and share your testimony or do hospital visits or teach a Bible study or whatever it is that is just outside your comfort zone. But, I promise you, that it is worth it even if you fall flat on your face. Sometimes, you have to just put your ego and pride on the shelf and go do something scary.
Better yet, let's leave them on the shelf and let God replace them with courage and humility and strength. Let's step out in faith and do some brave things. Let's go change the world, even though we know we are going to fail along the way.
Ok, so this is not a story about that feeling. This is about the complete opposite.
If you've been a singer for any length of time, you know exactly what I'm talking about. That note at the very top of your range that you can absolutely nail to the wall on a good day and can't touch with a ten foot pole on a bad day.
That note.
Most people have sense enough to stay away from it. They avoid songs because of it.
Unfortunately, I'm not one of those people. I really thought I could do it today. I was utterly and completely wrong. The spirit was willing, but the flesh was weak and forgot it is recovering from a sore throat.
The problem is that, as a worship leader, there's nowhere to hide when you miss that note. It is a spectacularly epic fail when you miss it. In that moment, you have a choice. You can finish the song and remind yourself that at least you aren't Fergie butchering "The Star Spangled Banner" on national TV - not to mention Facebook and YouTube, for all eternity. You can say that at least you were brave and tried, which is more than a lot of people are willing to do. You can think to yourself that things like that are good for you because they help keep your ego in check.
Or, you can have a colossal meltdown and tantrum because things didn't go your way and you're embarrassed.
I'll be honest - my first reaction is nearly always the meltdown. It doesn't help and I don't recommend it. Has it been hard today to not think about how many people said on the drive home, "Can you believe how bad she sounded today? Whew, we may have to change churches!"? Oh my goodness, yes it was. No one obsesses about mistakes better than I do. But, I can guarantee you that, unless I'm willing to quit singing altogether, it's probably going to happen again at some point.
We have to accept that failure is a part of living and being human. You can either let it break you and make you miserable. Or, you can learn to fall gracefully and fail better the next time. It's tremendously hard to put yourself out there and share your testimony or do hospital visits or teach a Bible study or whatever it is that is just outside your comfort zone. But, I promise you, that it is worth it even if you fall flat on your face. Sometimes, you have to just put your ego and pride on the shelf and go do something scary.
Better yet, let's leave them on the shelf and let God replace them with courage and humility and strength. Let's step out in faith and do some brave things. Let's go change the world, even though we know we are going to fail along the way.
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