MTC Week #74 - For a Reason

It was an odd Sunday morning to be sure. 

One reason was due to my missing Thursday's rehearsal (I attended my daughter's choir concert instead). When missing a rehearsal, you aren't eligible to sing on Music & the Spoken Word. So when I went into the Tabernacle this morning, I took a seat on the benches just left of the choir seats, and watched as others filed in and prepared to sing--all the while feeling somewhat disconnected and a bit sad. Fortunately, a friend who also had missed Thursday, came in and sat next to me--shifting my focus from the somber mood I was in, to the conversation that ensued.

After practicing the songs for an hour with the rest of the choir, I sat and watched the run-through. And as I watched, I thought about how nice it will be, next week, to be singing with them again.

The second reason the morning was different than usual had to do with an unfortunate incident that occurred during the live broadcast. The choir had finished singing the traditional intro song ("Gently Raise the Sacred Strain") and had just started the second piece. The camera man who was down on the platform (situated on top of some of the audience benches) and working the long-arm camera, fainted. As he did so, he fell back and down onto the benches, surely hitting his head and who knows what else. His wife, who was also on the camera platform, seeing this happen, screamed in alarm and for the next 15 minutes, ushers and other Tabernacle personnel worked to get the situation under control. Eventually, the paramedics came in with a stretcher and was successful in getting the man out of the Tabernacle and into the ambulance. 

While all this was happening, the broadcast continued, though much of the audience's attention was understandably diverted. The choir and orchestra members, too, were trying to stay focused and deliver the musical message they had prepared to give today. 

It's interesting why some things happen. Could God have prevented the man from fainting? Of course. He could have easily intervened to ensure that the broadcast went as smoothly as broadcasts usually do, and to ensure that those in attendance (including some who were from other countries or out-of-state and experiencing one of the these broadcasts, live, for the first and only time) would be completely focused on the music and the uplifting messages. But for some reason, He did not. It's not my intention to delve into a deep discussion on this topic of divine intervention. But suffice to say, things happen for a reason. And we trust that God's reasons are designed to bring about important purposes. God has a perfect way of taking incidents like these and using them for good. The trick is relinquishing our desire to always understand what good could come from such things, and just relying on our faith that He knows best.  

The morning ended with us rehearsing "Betelehemu" for our upcoming tour--complete with swaying and hand actions. A very non-typical song to end a non-typical day.

Until next time, God be with you.