My Reality

So I have to wonder why there is even a chorister in Sacrament Meeting.

I was fortunate enough to receive this calling about a month ago. Since that time I have dutifully stood up and waved my arm around, "leading" the congregation in singing praises. But not really. See, first off, the organist has her own agenda. No matter how fast or slow I try to wave my arm around, she plods on at her own predetermined pace. This pace seems to be the same for every song, and it is definitely on the slow side. Energetic songs just aren't the same when they take twice as long to sing..... And even if I had some sway with the organist, it wouldn't matter because the congregation doesn't even sing. They seem to all be a bunch of zombies, staring at me with blank eyes, most not even trying to move their lips. There just is no point for me to be there.

And during all of this, I am trying to signal to my children to behave themselves, sit down, shut up, etc. Yes, Dave is sitting with them, but he is rather oblivious. And when he is not drowning in oblivion, he is being highly amused.

For instance, today Ethan tried to follow me up onto the stand when I went up to "lead" the congregation in the closing hymn. Instead of snatching Ethan up and keeping him in his seat, Dave, sporting a large grin, sits forward in the pew and watches with extreme enjoyment as Ethan climbs up the stairs after me and then freezes in terror when the organ starts blaring. The zombies perk up a bit. I can see some of them wondering if they should help me out and go rescue my child. But they decide not to as the child's father is right there and should be doing that himself. Anyway, I finish with the song, and sit in a chair on the stand. Poor Ethan is standing trembling by the stairs still, so I have to beckon him over to me before the closing prayer starts. I get him calmed down, and after the prayer send him back on down to Dave, because I still have to conduct the practice hymn while the Sunday School teachers go set up for their classes. Well, Ethan doesn't make it all the way back to Dave before the organ starts up again, so I cut the practice hymn off after the first verse, so I can take care of my poor child.

Anyway, I let Dave know how displeased I was, but he could still barely control his laughter, he had been so entertained. *double sigh* I really have FIVE children you know....

I expect Dave will post some sort of rebuttal here, but we will all know that the truth has already been told.

That said, I am thankful for having this second calling. Heavenly Father knows that I need these blessings. And there is no such thing as a free lunch. Ya gotta work for it. Or endure, at the very least. You know how much I LOVE being up in front of people...

# posted by Maren @ 9:00 PM