Recently I have been working on "building" a sound system from scratch. We are preparing to launch a service on our local college campus and needed to put together a budget for instruments and sound equipment. Seems like an easy enough task huh?
Do you have any idea how many different microphones, cables, guitar amps, bass amps, drum kits, mixing consoles, front of house speakers, monitor systems, and rack cases there are? Fortunately I had acquired a fair amount of knowledge by hanging out with tech savvy people (I lovingly refer to them as geeks) over the years. By the way, get yourself a few geek friends, they are incredibly helpful, perpetually resourceful, and eternally willing to share their wisdom to anyone who is willing to listen.
Let me tell you this. As prepared, methodical, and mindful as I thought I was, it was nearly impossible to get everything just right! As I started ordering equipment, as things began to feel like Christmas in the middle of September around here, I realized that even though I had put a great deal of planning into this, I forgot things. And even though I order most of the needed gear, sometimes the manufacturer or dealer would send me the wrong item.
It was dang near impossible to get things right the first time around.
Do you ever feel as though you are doing everything you can to get things right or make something happen, but no matter how hard you try, you feel as though things aren't working out exactly as planned? I think many times we give up after the first or second attempt and assume that God doesn't want us to have that job promotion, bring that neighbor to church, take that mission trip to Africa, write that song that the whole church can worship to, etc. I think we give up too early! (Check out 2 Kings 13:18-19)
I took a rock climbing class when I was in college. We had a professional climber come in and talk to our class one day (let me tell you that first of all, professional climbers are a breed of people among themselves!). He had an interesting take on climbing that I will never forget. He said that the most rewarding part of the climb is NOT getting to the top. He said the thrill of the climb is when you are stuck on the wall, realizing that the next move will be difficult. You are faced with the opportunity to try a new maneuver, make a dynamic move to the next hold, and practice your technique. The downside of getting to the top is that the climb is over!
God gave us this one life to be an adventure. All too often we get stuck on the little things that don't seem to work out just right and distract us from the joy of being alive. The truth is that tomorrow will come! Whether or not we get everything just right today, we will have another opportunity to try again tomorrow! Keep moving towards your plans and dreams (1 Corinthians 9:24), keep running towards the destination (Philippians 3:12-14)! We serve a God that made human-kind out of dust, something from nothing. I am confident that he cares about the little things that seem so big today, but are small in perspective tomorrow!
