Changing the Sound Around You

Sound waves impact people. You can feel them, you are moved by them, and they can change your attitude. Everyone makes a "sound" so to speak. Some sounds are pleasing, soothing, uplifting, or encouraging. Other sounds are harsh, critical, demeaning, or cruel. As coach or Kim as administrator, our words can carry a lot of weight. Saying a simple praise to a 7th grader of giving an encouraging word to a teacher can make an impact, but so can embarrassing a student who pushes your buttons or lacking patience with a teacher and snapping at them. Do we think about the "sound" we give off. What about the sound others around us give off? Ecclesiastes 9:1 reminds us,"Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might." Someone who does things with all their might, does what is expected and then some. What if we became and then some people? Would our sound be different? Just as importantly, could we change the sound of the people around us?

One of Kim's older teachers lost his wife last year, so one of our services this week was to give him the boxes we had from the move so he could finally begin to pack up some of his wife's things. A simple service, but a big part of the healing process. What has his sound been for the past year? Could something as simple as packing up things change his sound? I believe so, closure is a need for us all? Jesus is hope and life, and to continue to live many times you have to box up the memories of the past.

As the newbie at our church I have sit, watched, and listened. If you know me, you know I have glanced back at the sound board as well. It's a small board with enough channels for drums, bass, acoustic, keyboard, 4 vocals, a lapel, CD player, and DVD player. I listened and thought to myself, I can help them out but it is not my place yet. Last Sunday after church I mentioned to the worship leader I had done sound before and that I could help him out. He seemed excited, it is a small church currently with limited resources. He invited me to practice on Saturday night and I went up to practice. I didn't realize at the time that there was usually no sound man on Saturday nights that they just turned on the system, the worship leader made a few adjustments and everybody practiced with no adjustments. I helped them out, fixed levels, gain structure, tweaked EQ's, and actually mixed what they were doing. A chance to serve and do something I enjoy doing. I felt like the sound was much better on Sunday and next Sunday I am going to do sound for them. It felt good to "change the sound around me at church".

Here's the deal though. I did not have time this weekend to spend 3 hours at the Church on Saturday Night. I needed to be preparing for our coaches meeting on Sunday. I do not have time to write this blog tonight. I have papers to record and practice scripts to do for tomorrow and I had to be at the JV football game tonight. But you have to make time to do what you know God has called you to do. I don't always do it, but I know that while I am doing it, my stress level changes dramatically. When you do the will of God, it is not stressful or taxing because you are not using your own strength or ability.

Now to tie this altogether. Kim and I have to make time to do what God has called us to do. I think I have a small glimpse of what that means. Kim and I are to change the "sound around us" in Sikeston. At the high school moral is low and negativity abounds. People gripe, complain, and speak defeat. Kim needs to give a different sound to the teaching staff and I am to give a new sound to a football program. The 7th and 8th Grade Center also is a grounds for negativity, so in my roll as teacher and now helping with FCA I am to work to create a "sound of hope and contentment."

Romans 10:18

But I say, Have they not heard? Yes verily, their sound went into all the earth, and their words unto the ends of the world.

Good night and God Bless,

Mark Jackson



Tuesday 9-16

Kim gave our boxes to people moving. The older man who lost his wife last year. The Mom who needs to move her daughter.