Freedom

Time for another post!

On Sunday, I went to an Amel Larrieux concert. If you don't know her, look her up. But chances are, you've probably heard some of her songs before ("For Real," on the radio now, or "Tell Me," from back in the 90s when she was the lead singer of Groove Theory).

Now, this woman is not a Christian artist. She's actually not a Christian at all, but I think I learned something about worship from her (go figure!).

So, one of the things that stood out to me about her is that she's willing to let go of the normal structure of the song (verse, chorus, verse, chorus, bridge, chorus) and just flow with how she's feeling. The first time she deviated from the song and started scatting and doing runs and adlibbing, I was blown away. Every other time I was in awe.

I wish I had the kind of freedom that Amel has when I'm leading worship. Because of the structured type of person that I am, I really have to be careful not to get too hung up on:

• The order of the songs
• My hand & verbal signals to the band, vocalists and congregation
• Looking at the clock (to see how long worship has gone on)
• Am I moving around too much? Not enough?
• Feeding the congregation the words to a new song. Hopefully, I get the words right!

Don't get me started. I can go on and on. There are so many things that a "skilled" worship leader needs to take into account. But if you plan for everything, you can miss out on the plan that God has. I get that! So I'm careful not to plan too much and am constantly asking God what's next. Sometimes that's the same thing that I originally thought and sometimes it's different altogether.

I get all that. My problem is that I'm reserved. I always have been. I was shy when I was younger that has developped into this reserved thing about me. I do not run around the church. I do not do fancy runs (I probably can't do them anyways). I do not dance in church unless it's a simple 2-step or a special rock w/ the congregation. I wish I could break out in "I Believe I Can Fly" or "No Air" during a worship set, but I don't think I could do it.

Unfortunately, that might hold back what God is trying to do in the people during worship. Maybe singing "No Air" would have opened someone's mind to the truth of who God is that day. I don't know. But my prayer is that I will be willing to step into my calling with no restraints. If where the Spirit of the Lord is, there really IS freedom, then God hook me up really tight w/ your Spirit when I lead worship and cover me in freedom.