I'll never forget when I was about 14 years old and felt the burning desire to learn guitar, write songs, and lead a band. I knew NOTHING... but went for it anyway. I had heard of something called a "chord," so I made one up. It consisted of playing four open strings in a certain pattern (not a chord at all). As I met some guitar players and bought some books, I began to actually learn some chords, strumming patterns, and picking patterns. The development of my playing has taken leaps and bounds over the past 13 years.
Why should I expect anything different as a husband, father, pastor, church planter, boss, etc. I'm pretty much making stuff up, learning some real stuff, and trying not to lose focus along the way. Remembering my development and a young "fake" guitarist gives me permission to give myself lots of grace and mercy as I grow. You should do the same.
My wife, Jessica, and daughter, Novi have recently given me an even more stark example. The other day, while in the back seat of my mother-in-law's van (on our way to the airport to head back to LA), my wife sang the first five notes of a scale ascending and descending. "La, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la." As soon as she finished, my daughter enthusiastically tried to follow suit, but without any pitch, sense of rhythm, or the ability to speak. Then my wife sang again, and my daughter tried to emulate it again. It was absolutely hilarious and adorable. I pretty much cried.
The contrast between the two voices was a perfect picture of the result of continual development. In the next 10 to 20 years of my daughter's life, she will learn to sing just like Mom. This will come from working the vocal muscles, learning from others, and not giving up.
Today, let go of the pressure to be perfect. You may be like the baby trying to sing right now, but you WILL develop into the polished and beautiful vocalist that God has called you to be. The development is not just lifelong, it's eternal.
Why should I expect anything different as a husband, father, pastor, church planter, boss, etc. I'm pretty much making stuff up, learning some real stuff, and trying not to lose focus along the way. Remembering my development and a young "fake" guitarist gives me permission to give myself lots of grace and mercy as I grow. You should do the same.
My wife, Jessica, and daughter, Novi have recently given me an even more stark example. The other day, while in the back seat of my mother-in-law's van (on our way to the airport to head back to LA), my wife sang the first five notes of a scale ascending and descending. "La, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la." As soon as she finished, my daughter enthusiastically tried to follow suit, but without any pitch, sense of rhythm, or the ability to speak. Then my wife sang again, and my daughter tried to emulate it again. It was absolutely hilarious and adorable. I pretty much cried.
The contrast between the two voices was a perfect picture of the result of continual development. In the next 10 to 20 years of my daughter's life, she will learn to sing just like Mom. This will come from working the vocal muscles, learning from others, and not giving up.
Today, let go of the pressure to be perfect. You may be like the baby trying to sing right now, but you WILL develop into the polished and beautiful vocalist that God has called you to be. The development is not just lifelong, it's eternal.
