On any given week, if you attend Constance Free Church you'll hear an original song. God has blessed me with the opportunity to serve in a church where we don't just SAY we value creativity, we actually DO. We celebrate and encourage the use of creative gifts and our church often connects well with a piece of music that our team created.
That being said, there's actually one song I can't bring myself to keep in our repertoire right now.
I'm an expressive person, particularly verbally. I love to talk. I enjoy writing. I don't really have a shortage of opinions. I love "wordsmithing" and making sure that what I say and pen communicates well. So when I wrote the song Find The Words, it was a fairly personal expression. It was my way of saying, "God, you have given me a love for words and the irony is that there aren't words available to me which could adequately express my love for You, so I need You to look deep inside me to know how I'm really feeling - what I'm truly trying to say."
The problem? Most of the people who make up the church community I'm privileged to lead aren't exactly like me. I'd probably even describe them as "reserved." So the truth of the song means something entirely different for them. Instead of being a passionate expression of something they feel deeply, I've actually sensed that it was becoming an excuse - I'll just assume that God knows what I'm trying to say and this exempts me from any form of outward expression.
My goal as a worship leader has always been and will continue to be finding ways for the people whom I lead to connect most meaningfully with God. In addition, I think there are Biblical mandates for us to engage worship physically and emotionally, with body and mind. Our I-don't-want-anything-to-ever-pull-me-out-of-my-comfort-zone western culture, however, has made it acceptable to pick and choose our preferred modes of worship and I often confront significant resistance when challenging worshipers (and not just in my own local church community) to find the freedom in our worship that scripture describes. To my startling surprise, I discovered that my own song was actually encouraging the very thing that I have been working diligently to change.
So, for now, the only place you'll hear Find The Words is on the watchword:truth album. I long for the day when it'll get reintroduced to our church. But it'll have to wait until it's a meaningful expression to the people I'm leading and not just me.
Find The Words
by Dan Leverence
(c) 2010 It's A Stretch Music, All Rights Reserved
I wish that I could find new words to say expressions of my gratitude and thanks
For the life-giving, soul-loving, ever-present help that You have been
I wish that I could find new words to be a declaration of Your love for me
For the unending, storm-calming, mountain-moving strength that You have been
When I can't find the words
The real song I sing is composed deep within this heart of mine
Where only You find the words
I wish that I could find new words that may explain the things I feel in some new way
You protect me and shield me and show me every day what You have been
Words of praise on my lips - just a simple melody
But a symphony within is singing of Your majesty
Singing words that only You can hear
0 comments:
Post a Comment