Let me just start off by saying how crazy these last 24 hours have been. Lulu got off work at 7:30PM on Friday and we took off on a 5 1/2 hour drive north to the great city of Houston. I got to experience a John Mayer concert for the first time on Saturday afternoon at the Woodlands Mitchell Pavilion. We staked our lawn seats at around 5:30 and waited for 2 hours for the concert to start under the hot Texas sun. My sister in-law even suffered a mild case of heat exhaustion (she's drama). After the concert we drove back the 6 hours to be in Sundays service. We got here with enough time to take a 15 minute nap and shower the concert sweat and smell off!
So was it worth it? Most definitely!!!!!!!!!
Not only was John Mayer's performance out of this galaxy, I have to also give mad props to Colbie Cailat and her band. She sounded so much better live.
Well In my 6 hour drive back home I had a bunch to soak in. I started to recap on what I had experienced that night and how in some ways those things could be applied to my life and ministry work.
So in nor particular order five things I learned from John Mayer's Concert.
1. Life without passion is like peanut butter with no Jelly!
If you ever had the privilege of experiencing a Mayer Show you'll know what I mean! There were no killer piros, t-shirt guns or fancy intro video loops just good music played with so much dedication. I've never see so much passion in a musician as I saw that night. He expends more energy in a 2 hour show then 5 atomic bombs. By the time he got off stage you could see it on his face that he left everything on the stage. To think he'll get up and do it again on another stage. I never felt such a conviction. How many times have I just stepped on stage or worked on a project and just gone through the motions. I pray that I never loose sight of the privilege to be a part of the Lords work. Whatever stage in life we may find ourselves may we we leave it all there and be spent till there is nothing more to give.
2. One Body Many Parts.
Just in case you thought it. This does not have anything to do with "Your body is a wonderland". As I sat waiting for the concert to begin I couldn't help but notice all the types of people that were at this concert. To my left sat some sisters with their mom. They appeared to be in there teens and sang along to every Colbie Caillat song. Then there was another lady walking around with a phanny pack. She had to have been in here late 60's. To my right was a group of college students who slept as soon Colbie took the stage. The covered seating area was full of baby boomers with mid-life crisis haircuts. And then there were a couple of fellow peeps wearing the typical christian t-shirts "Pick Jesus" , "Live a SPIRIT (sprite) filled life"along with "Is it in you?". I could go on but all this to say there were a variety of people from different walks of life.
But as soon as John Mayer got to the bridge on the song "Why Georgia" it was apparent why everyone one was there. The place rattled as the audience sang the bridge line in unison "So what, so I've got a smile on me but it's hiding the quiet superstitions in my head."
Isn't that a great example of the church? A place where different kind of people come from different paths but all voids and needs. Those voids might be filled differently depending on their culture or social status but we all hurt and there is only one healer. Through out the concert there were points where some people took their seats. Maybe they didn't understand the musicianship of a slow blues or they were just tired of standing. Through out the night people joined in song, laughter, cheers and dance. So there is no wonder why there are differences within the church body. I believe God enjoys the beautiful music that is made when we all work together in unison.
3. Transparency
Ok, I'm not talking about the fact that he did the whole set with his shirt off, but for being a big name artist he was pretty transparent. Now, he didn't list out every dirty laundry in his life but he brought the audience in just enough. As he started the intro to the song "Wheel" he paused, turned around, stood for a couple seconds and came back to the mic with a memory in mind. As he cradle his guitar in his hands he began to tell a story of how he worked at a gas station during high school, saved his money and bought that guitar. How he stared at it from across the room and said to himself, "One day I'm going to play you at a sold out concert". The fact that he is doing it now created an inspirational moment.
Now many of us can't relate to the life of a ROCK STAR but we can relate to hopes and dreams and working blue color jobs to get started. The crazy thing to me is that was one of the most powerful moments of the night. This transparent moment helped bring the audience closer to the performer. We could relate to him. Similar moments like this are beneficial in church service sometimes for people that come through our doors and have no connection with the communicator on stage. Most of the time it's easy for church goers to assume that those on stage are special or even impossible of doing wrong. Creating moments of transparency helps bring in the audience on a personal level. This in turn brings down the gap from those leading on stage and those who receive in the congregation.
4. Knowing when not to play
While I was at South Plains College I had the chance to take a few rock ensemble classes and guitar lessons. I quickly learned that I was not at the caliber of many of the musicians there. I soon realize that there are limits to my playing ability. As I continued on and started playing in a few bands I found that the most important skill when playing with a group is knowing when not to play. When John started playing the slow blues I just closed my eyes and listened to the gaps in between the notes. The notes not heard are just as important. This guy can shred all day long but he chose beautiful phrasing that gave notes air to breath.
In ministry, sometimes we feel that everything must be done with the gas pedal to the floor. But let us not forget that God can move even in the most quite moments. Take some time to stop playing and listen between the notes.
5. God is everywhere!
GOD IS EVERYWHERE AND IN EVERYTHING. For some it may sound absurd to experience God moments at a John Mayer concert. But let us not forget He is GOD. We serve a omnipotent father. We serve a creative God who spent a great amount of detail in designing the earth and galaxy we live in. I realize this weekend that God can speak through anything or anyone.
Who am I to say that God could only speak on Sunday mornings at 10:00 a.m. How many times have I look passed everday tasks or counted things as mear entertainment. In the the words of our Pastor, "We serve a God that wants to be wanted and needs to be needed." He is out there and wants to speak to use if we just stop and listen.
All in all it was a great experience! Maybe I took it too deep or maybe not deep enough. Enough said! Viva Juan Mayer and 20 minute guitar solos!
