New Year – New Challenge

Over the past three years I have been working with my team at Watermark-Church to continually improve, to progress in our worship style, and to engage our community. The challenge for 2012 was to add another electric guitar to the band.  This, in my mind, would add another level of texture and interest to the music.  I was on the look out for a good player for much 2011.  Someone who was talented and committed.  To no avail. I was never comfortable with a good fit for our team.

So, since the beginning of this month I decided I would give it a shot.  It has been a long time since I’ve had an electric guitar in my hands. In 2003 I started leading worship with an acoustic and never looked back… until now. Making the switch has been a challenge.  There is a lot more to think about than “did I turn off my tuner.”  But what I’ve learned is… you can never stop learning.  This new challenge has given me a renewed passion for what I do. I read a blog this morning that drove this idea home. “Board artist make boring art.”  David Santistevan has a great blog of worship leaders and musicians that gives great insight and practical advise. At the end of his blog he issues this challenge “I don’t want you to race through your life with excuses and look back with regret. Even if you’ve never created anything due to fear, start something today.”

This same principle could ring true in you life.  Have you gotten into the grove of doing the same things over and over again.  Get creative, challenge yourself, and see what happens.