Over the years I have been privileged to be present for musical performances that will always be part of my memory of extraordinary blessings I have received as well as deep gratitude for having enjoyed the opportunity to be a part of the occasion. Sometimes I was part of the audience, sometimes part of the performing ensemble, and others as a conductor. All of these occasions will always be with me and continue to form me as the person I am today.

None could have ever been more special that the one last evening, Sunday, December 21, 2014, when the choir that I am honored to conduct at St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church here in Austin offered a Festival of Christmas Music. The program was varied in style and genre, both sacred and secular. From the very beginning it was clear that the audience had come to enjoy the performance while warmly expressing their appreciation at the end of each number.

It brought to mind two statements that I heard Robert Shaw say which have always been very important to me. Once he was asked what kind of musicians he desired to have in the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra – he responded, the best amateur professionals that are available. He then went on to explain – amateur – people who practice their art for the love of it – and – professional – people who strive to always strive to meet the highest standards. Second, he was asked how he would like for the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra to be remembered – his response – as the best intentioned orchestra that ever has been.

Those statements fully describe the choir at St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church. They are all amateurs – none of them are paid – not even the few who make their living in the world of music. They sing in the choir for the joy, satisfaction, and love of doing so. They are all also fully professional – a number of them have training and experience that allow them to practice their art to a very high degree of expertise. All of them, however, constantly work to improve their skills – to gain more competence each and every time we have a rehearsal, sing in a worship service, or offer a public concert performance like the one last night. It is also a genuine pleasure to work with an ensemble which is both willing and able to immerse themselves in radically different styles – able to switch from one to another during the short time it takes to receive the appreciative applause of the listeners before moving along immediately to whatever is next.

They are wonderful human beings who have dedicated their lives to love, compassion, music, and service. To partially borrow a phrase: they constantly are striving to be all that they are able to be and become. They give and give and give – and – they respond to a conductor who often pushes them too hard and too fast by giving all they have to rise to the occasion, conquer the stated goal, and stand ready to move toward the next goal whatever it may be and whenever it may be – even if that is next Sunday – or day after tomorrow.

They are intelligent, mentally curious, dedicated volunteers who exemplify the best that a community of faith can be – an ensemble of loving and compassionate people who want to make the current world, time, and place better for all of creation.

The very first time I ever met with them I wondered to myself what level of competence might become possible – and – today I knew that I could not let this day pass without writing this post to express my deepest gratitude for who they are, who they have become, and who they will become as we continue to do our work together as amateur professionals. Also, I cannot finish this post without offering my gratitude to all of their families who greatly assist in making it possible for us to create the art that we continue to strive for together. All of this is also made possible by a congregation and staff that lovingly provide an environment of support and freedom of expression that is not to be found in many situations.

I know that some of my colleagues are reading this and thinking “so are you trying to tell us that they are perfect?” NO! None of us are perfect!! From time to time some of us have had a bad day and arrive in a bad mood – others are dealing with heavy burdens of day to day living – occasionally it seems like all of us have the cold from h**l – times when the room is either to hot or cold enough to hang meat. There have been times when it seems that nothing works – times that I schedule a series of anthems that no choir could handle well in succession. At least, here in Austin, we seldom have to worry about a blizzard!

I know I have written before about one of my favorite anthems – The Journey Is Our Home – with music composed by Allen Pote and text by Allen and Nancy Hollis Dillard. The opening words seem to me to describe our continuing goal: Awake! Arise! the journey’s begun. We travel on together as one. We know not where the road will lead, but we move in faith making love our creed as we follow: the journey is our home!

In the following posts I will write about my memories of some of those other magical musical moments. I would love for many of you to respond about those times in your life when you know without any doubt that you are doing the work that God intends for you to do – be it music or something else.

I close with words of wisdom from the pen of Frederick Buechner who writes that vocation is the place God calls you to is the place where your deep gladness and the world’s deep hunger meet (From Wishful Thinking: A Theological ABC. New York: Harper & Row, Publishers, 1973. Page 95).