Just thinking
This week has been different in many ways. The funeral I did for the 23 year old suicide victim, last Sunday, was indeed the hardest fruneral I have done in over 36 years.
Many people have came to me this week and told me what a wonderful job I did on my message to this grieving family. I needed a break from all of this sadness and all the other funerals I have done the past few months. I did 9 funerals in August and I believe the one Sunday, was my 26th for the year.
To get a bit of R&R, I went to a country/blue grass show to listen to my friend's band play. It's kind of like a mini-opry where anyone who wants to play or sing, can. When they saw I was in the audience, one of the musicians said, "There's a preacher here in the audience and from what I have heard about him, if Jerry Lee Lewis would hear him play a piano, Jerry would burn his"!!!! He introduced me and had me stand up. This was totally unexpected and way too complimentary of me.
When they took a intermission, many people came to me and ask me to play the piano for them and I told them I was there to just relax and listen. After a lot of badgering, I finally agreed to play a couple of songs for them. I was introduced and I played "The Tennessee Waltz", and Precious Jesus hold my hand. When it was over, I got a standing ovation. I sat through most of the remaining program but, I had to leave about 9:30pm to be sure my sister-in-law got woke up to go to work so, I asked if I come come to the microphone. My friend said "come on" so, I went to the microphone, told them why I was leaving early, I thanked them for allowing me, a simple preacher, to just come, enjoy myself, play music with my friends and that I hadn't done that in almost 40 years. I then shook hands with "Chuck", the leader of the band and my friend, I then went over and shook hands with all the band members and thanked them for allowing me to join them. I left with a big smile on my face and joy inside. It felt good.
Sat. I once again do another funeral and Sunday, I do what I love to do best, is be the Pastor, in the pulpit preaching but, for a few minutes Tuesday evening, I sat down at those old 88 keys, and just "unwound for a while" with other fellow musicians and friends.
Many people have came to me this week and told me what a wonderful job I did on my message to this grieving family. I needed a break from all of this sadness and all the other funerals I have done the past few months. I did 9 funerals in August and I believe the one Sunday, was my 26th for the year.
To get a bit of R&R, I went to a country/blue grass show to listen to my friend's band play. It's kind of like a mini-opry where anyone who wants to play or sing, can. When they saw I was in the audience, one of the musicians said, "There's a preacher here in the audience and from what I have heard about him, if Jerry Lee Lewis would hear him play a piano, Jerry would burn his"!!!! He introduced me and had me stand up. This was totally unexpected and way too complimentary of me.
When they took a intermission, many people came to me and ask me to play the piano for them and I told them I was there to just relax and listen. After a lot of badgering, I finally agreed to play a couple of songs for them. I was introduced and I played "The Tennessee Waltz", and Precious Jesus hold my hand. When it was over, I got a standing ovation. I sat through most of the remaining program but, I had to leave about 9:30pm to be sure my sister-in-law got woke up to go to work so, I asked if I come come to the microphone. My friend said "come on" so, I went to the microphone, told them why I was leaving early, I thanked them for allowing me, a simple preacher, to just come, enjoy myself, play music with my friends and that I hadn't done that in almost 40 years. I then shook hands with "Chuck", the leader of the band and my friend, I then went over and shook hands with all the band members and thanked them for allowing me to join them. I left with a big smile on my face and joy inside. It felt good.
Sat. I once again do another funeral and Sunday, I do what I love to do best, is be the Pastor, in the pulpit preaching but, for a few minutes Tuesday evening, I sat down at those old 88 keys, and just "unwound for a while" with other fellow musicians and friends.
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