Working outside our comfort zone...

Sunday at church we had a special treat - the Sunday school kids led us in the most glorious Gloria ever. They had been practicing the song "Alleluia, Praise ye the Lord" for weeks. If you're unfamiliar with it, as I was, the kids divide up into two groups. Everyone starts sitting down. One group stands up and sings the "Alleluia" parts then sits back down, while the other group is responsible for singing "Praise ye the Lord" - also standing up and sitting back down. Before they started, one intrepid Sunday schooler taught the congregation how to get involved - each side would take a role, following the lead of the kids up front. It was fabulous - everyone got involved and we were all laughing and loving it.

I thought the kids looked great. All but my own 3 year old (who is a little stage shy at times anyway) seemed to really know what they were doing, and better yet, seemed to be having fun doing it. Only later did my daughter tell me that the kids had ended up on the wrong sides. For weeks, in their practices they'd been assigned to a certain phrase and then for the actual performance must have somehow ended up switching sides.

It was a lesson for me. Sometimes I feel like I should be perfect at something before I go out and do it. I want to know in advance that whatever I'm about to do will go as planned. But those kids on Sunday taught me that God can be just as glorified by flexibility and good humor as by perfect planning. That it's okay, and even necessary sometimes, to work "outside our gifts." Alleluia, praise ye the Lord!

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