When I was in High School I was a member of the marching band.I can clearly remember the excitement that would spread throughout our football stadium as the games got ready to start.The spectators would be filing in and finding their seats.The team was getting into their spot to be able to ''charge'' out onto the field.The P.A. system was on and the announcers were giving their pregame commentary.And the band was tuning their instruments ready for the opening number.
Then the drum major would blow that whistle and lead us out onto the spotlighted gridiron.Heads held high we would march to our assigned locations and wait for the conductor to start the first song.With another whistle blast the band members would raise our instruments and begin to play.With a synchronized march, we would move from place to place, always creating new and interesting formations on the field. While we were marching we were also playing the music, listening to the other musicians, and watching the conductor.It was quite a lot of multitasking but our performances would usually be nearly flawless.The audience always clapped and cheered as we exited the field and the game began to start.
But what the majority of those spectators never saw was the hours and hours of practice that went on before one march was ever made.I remember joining the high school band and being told that we were going to march at football games.My initial thought was, ''No way, not me. I'll never learn how to do that.'' It wasn't that I didn't want to learn, I just did not feel confident in my ability to.But hours and hours spent practicing and preparing will breed confidence in any individual. I was there during our regular band period, learning the music, and playing my part.I was there for the night time rehearsals on the field.There were no spectators, no P.A. system, and no team members on those nights.It was just the marching band practicing each and every formation for each and every song.So that when that first game did come, we were able to run through it like clockwork.
Our church theme for this year is ''First the Kingdom.''A large part of that theme means that we want to do everything to the best of our abilities. It requires that we spend time in preparation.We cannot just hope to run out on the field and perform like the best unless we spend time in both planning and preparing. As we get ready to launch new ideas, re-launch some former ministries, or try to improve existing ones we will do it with careful forethought and also adequate preparation.There might not be a lot of difference in things right now as we move through January and into February. But there is a lot going on behind the scenes.The church is practicing the way we want to do things.We are moving people into the right positions to go forward.We are getting ready for when we take the field, because everyone will be watching and we want to be the BEST!
