What Would You Do If I Sang Out of Tune?
by WCBThe Beatles had a song with these lyrics - What would you do if I sang out of tune?
It might have been the title to the song. Somebody more knowledgeable than I about music (Wait! that’s everybody) will know the answer to that question.
This past week I found myself included in some funky email address list. I was asked to show up for a casting call. It reminded me of the time I was rounded up with a bunch of cows and someone took a swipe at my head. Moo!
It turns out there is a musical that is going to be put on at PACC on March 22nd and the powers that be are really hard up to fill places. A bit of type casting has me in the part of the Devil. Boo!
I admit, I am willing to do anything, to try anything, to be called on for anything that needs to be done. My sometimes philosophy - don’t do anything if I can get someone else to do it; do anything that nobody else will/can do. Ooo!
So, I am going to sing, make a joyful noise is more like it. Well, maybe if I am completely honest, it’ll just be a noise in the upcoming musical. Woo!
I am pretty sure I am in this thing way over my head, and it’s the listeners who are going to have to endure my willingness to pitch in despite having no pitch, to be thrown in when thrown out might be a better option.
We want people to come worship with us not to be thinking - What’s with this guy who sings out of tune?
My question is this - are we serving God when we are in over our head? When the people we want to serve ‘hurt’ more than are blessed for our efforts?
Can I sing out of tune and still be used? Or do I really need to learn when to sit down and shut up?
I reckon, for now, I’ll just give it (whatever) my best shot. If/when I am asked, I’ll try anything for the Kingdom.
How about you, how do you decide when to say no?
March 6th, 2008 at 12:11 am
The real joy of your post, even though you didn’t know it when you wrote it, is this: The title of the Beatles’ song is actually “With A Little Help From My Friends” (You can see where this is going, can’t you?) and the opening lines are:
What would do think if I sang out of tune,
Would you stand up and walk out on me.
Lend me your ears and I’ll sing you a song,
And I’ll try not to sing out of key.
So when your friends need you, you sing. In tune, out of tune, wrong tune — none of it matters if it’s the right heart.
March 8th, 2008 at 10:24 pm
Nancy Reagan did her dead-level best to teach me, “Just say no,” but I fail to exercise my right in the negative more often than not. I simply have a hard time saying no. Many projects look like fun to me.
Being willing to try new things has helped me to expand my skills as well as to recognize when something is truly beyond my grasp or interest.
So I generally say no only if I have a schedule conflict, if I want to encourage someone else a chance to try their hand at a task, or if I am completely out of my element.