EDITOR'S NOTE: Since becoming the clergy leader at Faith Lutheran Church in Wolverton, Minn., in November 2017, I've written a monthly column for our church newsletter. This column originally published in the June 2018 FLC Newsletter.
On Father’s Day, Shelley treated me to a spectacular outdoor concert by MercyMe at the Bluestem Amphitheater in Moorhead.
The evening was a spectacular specimen of the special Minnesota kind: Clear blue skies as far as the eye could see. Not too hot, but warm enough to wear summer short sleeves. Little breeze, no mosquitoes, no rain and an awe-inspiring, blazing pink sunset.
Add on top of that the music of one of my favorite all-time artists -- Christian or non-Christian music alike -- at one of my all-time favorite music venues, and you can imagine how special the night felt!
At one point, lead singer Bart Millard coaxed the entire crowd into an acapella rendition of “Amazing Grace,” with the sun dipping into the horizon and the sky lighting up in spectacular pinks, reds and oranges, I thought to myself, “I’ve never witnessed a more beautiful moment at a concert in my life!”
But eventually I would be proven wrong that night. Because as the concert continued, my attention was drawn to a remarkable young man in the crowd, and he ultimately will be the memory I take away from the concert.
For those who haven’t been to Bluestem, there are fixed seats in the middle of the amphitheater and off to each side are grassy areas where the crowd can stand. The young man that caught my attention was standing off to one of the sides, right up next to the gates that keep the crowds back from the stage.
He was dressed in a baseball cap and green t-shirt and you could tell, even from a distance that he was special, because from the very first notes of music that rang out from MercyMe’s guitars and drums, the young man began playing the air drums and bobbing his entire upper body like no one’s business! … On and on, throughout every song, the young man was oblivious to the rest of the crowd that stood, or sat, mostly stoic throughout the concert bowl, and he partied on as if he was at a private show of this world-famous band.
I could not take my eyes off him and his pure, unadulterated joy his heart was feeling. It was contagious, and I was so envious of the young man! … You could absolutely see the Holy Spirit at work in the young man, as he totally shed any inhibitions he might have of rockin’ out to MercyMe in his own and unique way in front of thousands. … And I could only stare on in envy!
You see, I’m not wired like that young man. While I can get up in front of the congregation and share a sermon, or speak to a boardroom full of people about important topics, I shudder at the thought of expressing childlike joy such as that young man in front of groups of people, even if it is the joy of the Spirit filling me!
And so even as I sit and write this for the newsletter, I’m brought back to the scene of watching that young man enjoy his concert so much, and I think what a terrific lesson for the rest of us. … Can you imagine if we could all let ourselves go in such a fashion when the Holy Spirit takes us over -- despite how many people might be around? … What kind of example of the Lord’s wonderment would that be for others? … And just imagine how could that help spread our Lord’s Good News?
That’s my challenge to myself and you all this summer. When we’re in the moment, and we’re feeling the Spirit taking us over, let’s give ourselves up to it and let it show to the rest of the world. … Let’s be like the young man at the MercyMe concert and just let that Spirit shine despite how many people might be surrounding us! … Amen!
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