A Holy Night

I'm still not sure anyone reads this stuff so I will at least speak to cyberspace. A few weeks back something happened to me that reaffirmed that what I do at CCC has total meaning that affects people to last into eternity. Heavy stuff, eh? One Saturday afternoon at the CAC as I was entering the room for the beginning of the 5pm service, a lady stopped me to say something. At first I have to admit it was hard to understand her because of a British type accent. However, after a moment I heard how she was referring to a service that I played at. Now, I have to admit that us artists at CCC do hear from other people that attend regarding how great we all play. I have learned a long time ago that shrugging it off is not what one does. When someone goes out of their way to commend you, you must respect them and say "thank you". I thought that this was one such conversation. It wasn't.

There was a Christmas Eve a few years back where we were onstage at Romeoville playing the TSO instrumental version of O Holy Night. What is funny is that I remember that night! The song is almost all guitar solo - and I broke a string in the middle of it! Ouch! I quickly took the guitar off and put on the back up guitar - all while the song was going on. Well, the band kept playing through all that and somehow I came right back in and started playing at the correct spot om the song. Only God could have guided me then because I was in one of those brief panic modes and not conciously following the music through that moment! So, I thought the conversation was going there and we would have a laugh about it and then move on. It wasn't.

Mary (that was her name - easy one to remember) had come to that service seeking God. She was desperate for the Holy Spirit to speak to her somehow. She got it that night. And yes, it was during that song! She specifically mentioned that one. From what I remember of that conversation was that it was through my playing that she experienced God's presence like never before. It changed her life. That caught me for a loop. She was in near tears as she was telling me that. She had been wanting to tell me for all these years but, for whatever reason, never got a chance until this moment. Folks, what a moment. I get chills even now as I write this. Who could have ever thought that during a time of what seemed utter chaos and near disaster turns out to be a life changing moment for someone! THAT is why I do what I do! THAT reaffirms that God will use me no matter what I am doing or thinking! And to think, that all we need to do is just use the gifts that He gave us and just see Him work! Whoa, cool stuff!

That, to say the least, made my day. She is now contributing in First Impressions and connecting and celebrating.

And I am still breaking strings.

I guess that Christmas Eve was truly a Holy Night.