This was at the end of several stressful days--the sadness of losing mom, and then the myriad of details and decisions involved with her funeral and church service celebration.
Ed very gently let me know that he would be hosting a church service with lots of special music about 3 weeks from that day, and might I think about joining him and playing guitar?
Despite my steadily growing fatigue and numbness, I had not even a moment's hesitation.
"Ed, just tell me the time and place, and I will be there." That was our conversation.
3 weeks later, when I arrived at the church for the pre-service rehearsal, there was a stellar ensemble of people who had also answered Ed's call--musicians of a caliber whom I was humbled and just a little intimidated to join. They had also said yes to Ed. And they were in their chairs quietly taking direction from him and smiling to each other as each song took sumptuous shape and texture. As we each knew, Ed would gather us into his musical vision and call upon our unique, individual talents in ways that said, "I know you, and I know a special way that you can be a part of this."
It's been that way every time I've worked with Ed for the past 40 years. Every time.
All Ed has to say now is, "come, follow me."
The apostles didn't have 40 years of proven experience when they met Jesus. And yet, the Gospel's explain how Jesus gathered his group of leaders,
"Come, follow me, and I will make you fishers of men." At once they left their nets and followed him. Mark 1:17
I know how a musical service is going to turn out when I work with my friend Ed.
But how did the apostles know? And yet,
"Jesus called them, and immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him."
Matthew 4:22-23
Jesus knows you and will involve you in ways that celebrate the unique gifts with which you've been blessed. I say, 'Lord, just tell me where and when!'
What do you believe?
