Making a joyful noise

I've been thinking a lot about singing lately. Something I love to do, even though I'm not that great at it. I was in choir all through middle school and high school, and as long as I was next to somebody who knew what they were doing I was ok. Leave me on my own, though, and anything could happen.

Once at summer camp, about 7 years ago, I participated in a talent show where I sang (joyfully and WAY off key) You are my Sunshine while my goofy friend behind me held things up (picture a sunshine, deer, happy face, etc) to make the audience laugh and I feigned unawareness. The next morning at circle, a little girl hugged me and said she felt bad that people laughed because she could tell I had tried my best. After assuring her that it was all rehearsed and meant to be funny, I vowed to ALWAYS be around sweet little kids as often as possible.

As I continued to lead worship it became habit to STEP AWAY FROM THE MIC during hymns. I marvel at pastors who can do it all--preach and sing and be human.

For eight and a half years I have been a singing star, though, with and for my boys. They think their mother is WAY up there. Just tonight we had a revival in their room, starting off with a torch-song style Rudolph the Red Nosed reindeer, launching into Frosty, taking requests from the audience for a solo Silent Night and finishing with a rowdy bedtime This Little Light of Mine. Charlie called out the verse and Henry and I belted it out. The Von Trapps we are not, but joyful, definitely.