Hey, hey goodbye

During church last night, the pastor mentioned a verse in his sermon; it’s also used in the book that Pourpa and I are reading together: “Delight yourself in the LORD and he will give you the desires of your heart” (Psalm 37:4). Basically, if you’re walking with God, I believe what it says is that your desires will be what God desires. After thinking about that, I realized that part of my passion in life is no longer leading worship music. I’d much rather use my gifts in photography and other skills I have instead.

After talking with our home group bible study leader leader last week, I learned that the entry point for leading music at church would be working with kids and young people. And I know that I really don’t want to be leading music for kids (whether it’s 3rd grade or 10th grade). I did that a long time ago and I think that part of my life is pretty much over. I think that if leading worship was going to be a part of my life again, I would definitely have to sense God leading me that way. I would have a heart to use my musical talents where they are most needed. And I don’t.

So I decided to sell my baby. I think my initial feelings about leading worship again some day were really based on some strong emotions that I felt after Todd’s memorial service. But since that time, I’ve only played once or twice.

What I’d love to do with the money I make from this beautiful guitar is to buy the photography equipment I’ve been dreaming about. I’d love to go on travels with Andy to faraway places, shooting pictures for CRM on a short-term missions trip, sharing the story of what God is doing all over the world via photography. Our church goes on regular missions trip. And it seems that there is always a regular photography/video/media crew that goes along to document the trip for sharing it with the congregation afterwards. I’d love to do that too.

And so I think I’m following this passion for photography that God has given me at this stage in my life; hence, goodbye Takamine.

It was kind of strange going into the Guitar Center today to get my guitar appraised. That’s where I originally bought the guitar in 1996 in La Mesa. The salesperson could not stop admiring and praising the guitar, saying how beautiful it looked and sounded. I felt kind of sad hearing that since the guitar has so many special memories for me. But the money I get from the guitar will be used to further God’s kingdom in a different way. That’s my prayer. And I’m sure there will be many good memories that I will be capturing on digital sensor.

This entry was posted on Sunday, April 30th, 2006 at 4:06 pm and is filed under Announcements, Life, Photography and Spiritual. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.