That’s Enough Practice

The praise band meets before church each Sunday to run through the music, so I leave our house about 45 minutes before George and Jacob do. When they arrive, Jacob comes into the sanctuary and listens until time for Sunday school.

I sit with my back to the congregation, but I can see the whole room in the polished surface of the ebony, upright-grand piano. This morning, as usual, I watched Jacob lumber up the aisle with his signature gait. He took a seat in the second row. We continued playing.

It’s just practice. A time to iron out transitions, polish vocals, divvy up responsibilities–you know, “Guitar takes the lead on verse two,” that kind of thing. When we reached the chorus of Amazing Love, I glanced in the reflection at Jacob. He stood, arms stretched straight out to his sides, palms up, face turned toward the ceiling, eyes closed. And he sang: “Amazing love, how can it be, that You, my King, would die for me? Amazing love, I know it’s true. Now it’s my joy to honor You. In all I do, I honor You.”

People were milling about, preparing for the coming service. Taking care of business, so we could all worship at the appointed time. But Jacob doesn’t remember how to tell time.

Jacob taught me something this morning. I live so much of my life “practicing” for eternity. But eternity is in this moment. Worship isn’t later. Worship is now. Driving down the road, laughing with a friend, cooking a meal. Amazing love, I know it’s true. Now it’s my joy to honor You. In all I do. . .

There’s no such thing as practice for life. There’s only living.

0 thoughts on “That’s Enough Practice”

  1. Yeah, I know what you mean. For me, it’s more of an affirmation of desire than a statement of fact. If it said, “All I do honors you,” I could never sing it. For me it’s more like, “In all I do, I can honor You, because of who You are.” That idea follows the train of thought in the rest of the song: I’m forgiven, because You were forsaken, etc.

    No one honors God with every thought and action. And yet He says, “You are altogether lovely.” Amazing love, indeed.

    Love you!
    Mom

  2. Yeah, I know what you mean. For me, it’s more of an affirmation of desire than a statement of fact. If it said, “All I do honors you,” I could never sing it. For me it’s more like, “In all I do, I can honor You, because of who You are.” That idea follows the train of thought in the rest of the song: I’m forgiven, because You were forsaken, etc.

    No one honors God with every thought and action. And yet He says, “You are altogether lovely.” Amazing love, indeed.

    Love you!
    Mom

  3. Yeah, I know what you mean. For me, it’s more of an affirmation of desire than a statement of fact. If it said, “All I do honors you,” I could never sing it. For me it’s more like, “In all I do, I can honor You, because of who You are.” That idea follows the train of thought in the rest of the song: I’m forgiven, because You were forsaken, etc.

    No one honors God with every thought and action. And yet He says, “You are altogether lovely.” Amazing love, indeed.

    Love you!
    Mom

  4. Re: P.S.

    That is powerful. Amazing how God uses people you don’t know and may never meet to teach you lessons.

    Mike

  5. Re: P.S.

    That is powerful. Amazing how God uses people you don’t know and may never meet to teach you lessons.

    Mike

  6. Re: P.S.

    That is powerful. Amazing how God uses people you don’t know and may never meet to teach you lessons.

    Mike

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