Drumming For The Lord

"Alas, Lord God! Behold, I do not know how to speak..."just one cymbal crash that was never noticed. The
-Jeremiah 1:6All during high school, I wanted to fit in, butguys played well too, and we drew people back into
never did, for various reasons. I wanted to dothe small group of those employees daring enough to
everything, yet did very little due to lack of confidence. Istay in the first place. Throngs of people came back
was musically inclined, playing various instruments, butto see what was going on, and who was that on the
mainly stuck to the baritone saxophone because mydrums?"It was ME! I felt great! When the song ended, I
jazz band teacher, Bert Hughes, loved the fact that Iput my sticks in my back pocket and started to get
was the only female to play so well in one of hisup."Oh, no!" I was told. Our manager came up and told
bands. My passion, though, was drumming. He and Ime to sit back down and play! Well, who was I to
went round and round; him telling me I was moredisobey a direct order? I dutifully sat back down and
talented with the sax, and me pleading for chances towe just jammed for 30 or so minutes.When it was all
be a more active drummer. I'd sneak in at footballover, droves of people came to me wanting to know
games to the drummer's line, produce my own sticks"Where did you learn to play like that?" and "Why did I
and convince one of the snare drummers to let mehide such talent?"Rex approached me the next week
play a song. I got noticed; one of my yearbooksasking if I'd be interested in playing with his group at his
shows me in my marching band uniform, holding a pairChurch. Now, I'm not a Church goer. I have faith, I have
of sticks in my hand asking "What song are webeliefs, and I'm a very spiritual person, but as a child
playing?"After high school, I dabbled with drumming. I'veand teen, I was forced into Church, and the woman
had several sets over the years, and actually playedwho adopted me was very cruel to me whenever we
with a heavy metal group right after high school, butwent to Church, to the point of reducing me to tears
left when I found out they were a less than desirableevery Sunday. I still am uncomfortable in any Church,
group of men. They were actually working towards aso I celebrate my life and my faith privately, but
record then.I played with people I met in the Army; justfaithfully.Rex was insistent; they needed me. I finally
jamming, and having a good time. I had decided rightagreed, but didn't feel good about it. Playing with
after high school that I'd never be the famousbrushes in a quiet church just wasn't my thing. Get me
drummer I'd so dreamed of, but that was fine- I justin a wide open space with electric guitars and loud
loved to play.After I got out of the Army, I went aboutmusic, and let me feel free to really play, now that's
6 years without so much as holding a drum stick. Thatmy thing!I prayed about it, and slowly felt better about
changed when I came to work for the company I'mthe whole thing. I even brought my kids to rehearsals
with now.A man there, Rex, and his wife belonged to aand Church on Sundays. We did this for a few
Church where they played for the Lord every Sunday.months, and it came time for the Christmas show,
They had a drummer, guitarists, a clarinetist, a pianist,which I was looking forward to.The day came, and I
and Rex played trumpet. They played 'Church music',was nervous. We had picked several songs, most of
something I'd never tried because I have a very heavywhich I was to play quietly and in the background. I just
hand and foot when it comes to drumming. I did playreally didn't want to mess things up! There were many
heavy metal, after all! A few years ago, their drummerelderly folks in the congregation, and they were used
came on levy for Korea. Around the same time, ourto certain things. The last song worried me because it
company had a picnic where employees would getwas 'Rock around the Christmas Tree' and it would be
together and play, if they wanted. Someone heard Iconsiderably louder than they were used to. I had
was a drummer and wanted me to play."No way!" Isomeone apologize in advance for me because I
said. "I haven't played in years, and I really just messedknew I would be loud. Right before my cue, I sent a
around with drumming".They persuaded me, and afervent prayer up:"Lord, please, I'm here to play for
couple of them came over one night to rehearse.You! Please lend me your hands so I might do
What I ended up doing was sitting there for 2 hoursthat."We got going, and immediately I found myself
while they tuned up and argued back and forth whatplaying quite loud. I kept looking over to the other
they were going to play. When they finally left, I hadmembers of the group, watching for the all too familiar
played all of 5 minutes, and had not made it through asigns that I was too loud. There were none.
single song. The picnic was the next day, and I was toI kept watching the congregation for signs I was too
play 'Sweet Home Alabama' by Lynyrd Skynyrd.Talkloud. There were none.Then something amazing
about nerves being shot! That next day, I chickenedhappened; so amazing that I almost dropped my sticks
out, and let some management member play all thein the middle of it all.Some of the congregation, I mean
bubble gum songs. I said I'd play 'Sweet Homefolks older than 60, were getting up to dance! Right
Alabama' and that was it.Well, they were awful. Notthere, in a Methodist Church, these normally proper and
having rehearsed together, everything was way off.reserved folks were dancing! I looked over at Rex in
People left in groups after just a few minutes. Ouramazement; he winked back and we played on.The
manager was thoroughly embarrassed, but he had tolouder we got; the more into the song we got, the
stay. Finally, they called me up there. I shook my headmore they danced. We played; they danced.I played
no. They called me again, so I walked up to the drumsfor the Lord that day. My voice came through my
on rubber legs, and said a quick prayer for the Lord todrums. Everyone there heard my voice. It was loud,
give me the strength to get through this, and to pleaseclear, and flawless. And it was all for my Lord.Lord,
make it fast! They had already started to play, so aslend me your voice so that I may share my joy- and
soon as I sat down, I just came in on the next beat.I'dvoice- with others.LifeWriter is an author on
never played in front of a group of people as diversewhich is a site for Creative Writers.She writes
as this, but thankfully, my shaking was invisible as Ifrequently on issues of child abuse, mental health and
played. After a minute, my shaking stopped and myanimal issues.
talent shone through. I played almost flawlessly, missing