Affirming the Tuba

Rev. Matt Rawle

Several years ago a youth director decided to form a youth praise band in the congregation which he served. He simply made an “all call” to any youth who were interested. Jamie and Wendy wanted to sing, Scott grabbed his drum sticks, Jim restrung his guitar, and Jeff . . . well, Jeff tuned his tuba. The youth director wasn’t quite sure how this was going to work, but as he remembered from his Vacation Bible School days, “All God’s creatures have a place in the choir” (even though “praise band” is never explicitly mentioned—he was never a literalist, so he went with it). At the first rehearsal the youth tuned up and plugged in and played “Lord, I Lift Your Name on High . . . whomp, whomp, whomp, whomp.” It was pretty terrible, tragic really. The tuba was an obvious elephant in the room. What is a youth director to do?

During the rehearsal there was considerable feedback in the sound system. The youth director didn’t really know how to fix the problem, so he asked the band for ideas. Jeff jumped up and said, “I know how to fix it.” He set his tuba down, walked behind the sound board, fixed the feedback, and there he stayed—to everyone’s liking, including his own. From then on, they made beautiful music together.

In 40 Days Living the Jesus Creed, Scott McKnight talks about affirmation. He writes, “Affirmation creates a wave of considered appreciation of others. We are wise to avoid flattery and insincere affirmations, but otherwise, the Jesus Creed shapes the kind of love that leads to the open acknowledgment of others.” It would have been easy to say “No” to Jeff and his tuba. The band would initially have sounded better, but eventually the feedback would have crippled any concert. The band needed Jeff. Jeff needed the band. Failing to recognize one’s desire to be a part of the group, even if he or she brings considerable baggage (in this case, a tuba), would have erased the beauty God was trying to express. Which of your gifts needs to be recognized in the church? Whose gifts do you need to celebrate?