Fourth of July

(I actually wrote this post of the Fourth of July, but I had no internet on that day...)

So I guess it is time to write. Write about what? Something worth knowing, I guess. There are some times when writing, even if the content is insignificant, is a good thing to do. It keeps the brain working, keeps the consciousness of thought processes in motion, reminds me that I can still create and think up sentences on my own, pointless as they may seem. So today, a lazy, Fourth of July afternoon, I have felt the need to write. So write I will...

I've come to the conclusion that whatever it is I'm doing, if I am doing it in the presence of people who are better than me, and I am being depended on to come through, my game is upped. This may be an obvious fact to most people, but I didn't realize the whole truth of it until yesterday.

For the past six or seven months, I have been going to a great church. As I've felt the desire to become more involved, I decided to try out for the music team. Music is something in which I was greatly involved in my previous church, but I didn't want to rush into things too fast at this new church. I wanted to test the waters a little before I committed to a dive in. Anyways, so yesterday I brought in my mandolin, played a little for the worship leader, and went through the usual routine of him asking me questions, having me play this or that, etc. At this church, there are tons of great musicians, and the whole time I was in the interview/tryout, I noticed myself forcing my fingers to do what my mind wanted them to do. I have always had a fear of being forced to improvise on a song I was unfamiliar with. But during the interview, I did. And I did okay. ("Okay" for me is great, being that usually my improvisation skills can be described as a "Train wreck ending with tensed fingers and small beads of sweat forming at the corners of my forehead").

I'm not trying to sound arrogant or haughty in my recently improving mandolin skills. I was just so taken aback that in the circumstance where I was surrounded by those better at music playing than me, where I needed to be good, and it was expected of me to be good, I was better than I thought I ever could be.

This truth seems to be the same in every area of life. I tend to feel the same and get similar results when I surround myself with people who seems to know God better than I. My faith is naturally challenged due to the increased standard I am surrounded by.

Again, I think this is something that most people would view as plain logical living. It's not necessarily a profound thought. I just haven't fully grasped it until now...

On a different note, I just finished reading "The Secret Life of Bees" by Sue Monk Kidd, and it was simply fabulous. If you want a good read, no, if you want a GREAT read, go buy it now. Yet again, it was one of those books that left me wanting, almost hurting for, more information about the characters. What will Lily end up doing with her new found life? Will Zach be a part of it? And T.Ray. What will become of him? Oh bother.

Sue, it would do you well, I'm sure, to write a sequel.