The Right Question

The right question is deeply important as we turn our attention to 2017.  As we look to the future and wonder how we are going to make it better, or make it at all, we should keep a singular question in mind.  It is a question well illustrated by the following story by David Boyd.

"I first began to play for church at age 16.  That first Christmas Eve service, just a few weeks since I had begun "performing" in church, the Pastor and those leading the worship met in the pastor's study for prayer before the service began.  When I first began to play the organ for church I shook.  Not just my hands, but my feet and my legs.  And not just while I was playing-even before.  I remember my pastor then-Rev. Barry Wolfe, a young man in his late twenties who shared that he used to get really nervous before he preached. "Yeah," I replied with great interest, "how did you get over it?", hoping he'd give me the secret.  "Someone asked me the right question," he said.  I waited with anticipation.  Maybe he was going to give me that silly time tested strategy, "Just picture them in their underwear..." After the longest pause, Rev. Wolfe looked at me warmly and asked, "David...who are you playing for?"  There was silence.  He didn't say another word, nor did I.  Neither of us needed to.  I knew the answer, and he knew that I knew.  I had stopped shaking.... "Go, play the prelude.  God's waiting."

1 Corinthians 10:31 says, " So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do everything for the glory of God."  

As we approach the new year, let us do so with boldness because we're asking the right quesiton, "Who am I doing this for?" If we answer that before we make our choices, 2017 will be filled with joy, purpose, and love. God bless you in the New Year!

---