Naomi's Notes - 6/18/06
During seminary, I served a Louisville church as Associate Minister of Music. In addition, I had some Children's Ministry responsibilities including assisting our on-the-ball Children's Sunday School Department director with her 2-day educational/fun trip for older children.
One summer her itinerary included a tour of Mammoth Cave. Our group of 30 gathered with about 70 other tourists for the historic tour. As everyone began the descent down the long stairway into the rotunda, I covered the rear flank, rounding up any stray children from our group.
A friendly Assistant Park Ranger fell in step with me as we followed everyone down the stairs, asking questions about our group, etc. At some point I told him I was a seminary music student, and he said, "Oh! Would you like to sing in the cave?" Oddly embarrassed, I quickly said, "No!", and we moved on to other conversation.
The Senior Ranger had already begun his narrative as we reached the bottom. I quietly found my group and edged into the crowd, forgetting all about the Assistant Ranger. This was my first tour as an adult, so I became really engrossed in the Cave's history as an ammunitions warehouse and later as a tuberculosis hospital. When the Senior Ranger told the story about the "Methodist Church" boulder, l noticed that the Assistant Ranger had circled to the front and interrupted his boss, whispering something in his ear.
A moment later, the Senior Ranger announced, "I understand someone wants to sing." At first I looked around to see who it was, but after what seemed a long silence, one of the children poked me in the side, and I suddenly realized he was talking about ME!
Within a split-second, my thoughts moved from "How embarrassing!" to "I'm gonna git that Assistant Ranger!" to "Oh, my, what song would be appropriate?" A moment later I thought of a hymn I had memorized as a child. As the crowd stood silently, I inhaled deeply and began to sing a cappella:
Rock of Ages, cleft for me, Let me hide myself in Thee; Let the water and the blood, From Thy wounded side which flowed, Be of sin the double cure, Save from wrath and make me pure.
My self-consciousness evaporated as I relished the experience of singing inside that wonderfully acoustical, historic landmark - I'm sure the notes are still resonating deep within the cave. Continuing on the tour, I thought, "You just never know when you're going to be called upon to serve the Lord!"
We all prepare ourselves for service every time we "fill ourselves with things of the Lord"--learning songs of the faith, memorizing scripture, studying to teach VBS or Sunday School, … Then God suddenly puts a new opportunity right in front of us, and we discover we're ready!
See you in worship this Sunday -
Naomi