The role of errors

The Chapel Choir is coming down the home stretch toward the Christmas concerts.  We have one more practice...the dress rehearsal...before the first program this Thursday.  We started the process late this past summer when we heard the music for the first time.  Since then, we've practiced as a choir almost every week to learn the music and we've listened and worked on the music on our own as well.  Today it struck me (during practice) that there are two outcomes every time we attempt to sing a song.  Either we pretty much get it right...or we make some significant mistakes.  It has taken all these hours of practice to sing the songs "pretty much right" most of the time.  It's not that we want to make mistakes, but, sometimes we misread the notes and sometimes we lean on each other when the others are also wrong or sometimes we aren't clear on the pacing or the dynamics or the cut-offs or the entrances.  Sometimes we know exactly how the music should be sung but we still goof.  Our concentration may not be focused enough or we may have temporarily forgotten what to do.  Of course, the biggest factor is the benefit of practicing the music repeatedly to etch proper singing patterns in our minds.  And it truly does help to be surrounded by all the other voices.  I suppose the thought I'm wrestling with has to do with a healthy view of "making mistakes".  We all have made countless mistakes, both individually and as a choir, as we have learned this music...but it's OK  because those mistakes have been a necessary path to a worthy goal.  Each mistake becomes the backdrop for correct performance and each improvement represents one step closer to the Christmas program.  It is the same in life.  Our worthy goal is to attempt to walk closely with Jesus each day.  We want to please Him in all our thoughts and the actions that follow.  Sometimes we fail.  But each failure can become a lesson learned as we strive toward greater intimacy with the Lord.  Sometimes we'll know what to do and still fall...but the worthy goal remains and the Lord awaits us as we rise to stand with Him again.  Just as in the choir, it helps to come after Jesus with others who share the same purpose.  We draw strength, encouragement and we learn many things from those friendships.

 

Philippians 3:12 Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me.

 

blessings,

Rob Smith