Last night I led worship for our F1rst Wednesday Service at Church.
I’m comfortable playing guitar in front of people. Singing? Not so much. Leading worship? Not at all.
But the opportunity was there, and I consider it a privilege to lead other people in praising God, so I took it.
Sound check was rough. I couldn’t find notes. Couldn’t hear myself well enough. I began to wonder if it was a mistake. If someone had offered to lead for me right then, I might have considered it.
But I went through with it, and it went well. The band behind me was great. No major vocal screw-ups to kill the atmosphere. And from what I could see, it seemed like people were engaged.
When was the last time you did something that was very much outside of your comfort zone? If it’s been a while, may I ask why? If it’s because no opportunities have arisen, that’s one thing. But if you’ve been turning down chances to stretch yourself or do something new because you’re afraid you’re going to embarrass yourself or you’re worried things won’t go well, then let me give you some friendly advice: overcome your fears and do it.
What’s the worst that can happen? You completely screw up? Well, then at least you tried and now you know that opportunity wasn’t for you. (And don’t worry about what people will think…they probably already think you’re a doofus anyway.)
Not to go all Seth Godin on you, but maybe “What’s the worst that can happen” is the wrong question. Maybe we need to ask “What’s the best that can happen?”
Will I ever lead worship again? I don’t know. If I’m ever asked to again, I probably will. Definitely glad I said yes this time, though.
What about you? Has there been something you’ve done in the past 6 months that really stretched you and rocked your comfort zone? I’d love to hear about it. Stories like that often inspire me to shake things up a bit in my life too…
Posted by Bryan AllainTags: comfort zones, opportunities, worship
Glad you got the opportunity to lead worship. That is awesome you are willing to use your gifts for God. I just blogged on something that has been uncomfortable for me, http://davidcarrel.blogspot.com/ is the link, but to save you from going there, it was entitled Foolishness. I have been doing video blogs for youtube and facebook for the last few months and it is basically doing lectures. Right now I am doing a chronological Bible study on video. I basically feel like I am a nerd doing these, but I keep doing them cause I feel that if it helps one person with their relationship with God than it is worth my being looked at as a fool (wouldn’t be the first time I looked like an idiot anyway).
But I guess that is why God uses the foolishness of this world, so that He can be exalted. Thanks for the post and letting me talk through my personal problems, haha.
hey, i found your blog from pete wilson’s blog. intercourse, pa always brings a smile to my face, especially when people don’t know it is a real place or they haven’t been there before! your blog looks interesting, i’ll have to give it a read!
@david – thanks david. i think it’s cool that you’re willing to look like a fool for something you believe in. we’ve all got to learn to take ourselves a whole lto less seriously.
@susan – thanks so much for stopping by Susan! Intercourse is definitely a great place to be! thanks for giving my blog a shot. i hope i can earn a coveted spot in your feed reader. i’ll check out your blog as well…
Uncomfortable? Well, for one, there was that email I sent this girl that I forwarded you later that … well, it got me nowhere, but my point was made.
Then I guess there were a number of things at work, but nothing comes to mind. Last year is a blur.
And then there’s hemorrhoids.