As a seven-year-old, the pressure was exceeded only by the exhilaration of actually performing the lead role of “The Little Blue Angel” in our school’s Christmas pageant. Mom and I went to Bates turkey farm to gather the right feathers to adorn the wings of my costume. I rehearsed tirelessly to perfect the solo I’d sing from the top of the Christmas tree. In fact, I’m told I practiced so much that I even sang it in my sleep!

These are the first memories I have of being part of a Christmas music program, and they are all still so vivid and fond! In the years since second grade (and there have been just a few:-) my experiences with music at Christmas have been varied, but music for me has always been such a prominent part of the celebration of the glorious gift of Jesus Christ. Throughout high school and college, I enjoyed singing solos, duets, in trios and quartets, in ensembles and choirs, and accompanying various groups on piano. After graduation, these types of roles continued and even began to expand. From singing with the St. Andrew Sisters in A Big Band Christmas to the very humbling role of Mary the mother of Jesus in another Christmas pageant, to co-narrating Candlelight at Dawson with my husband, to working on music staff to design, conduct, and direct many worship presentations–leading in Christmas music programs has been a part of my life for many, many, many years.

But things have been very different this year. As our church’s big Christmas program drew nearer, I found myself becoming as excited as ever before, even though I knew I had no solo, no ensemble role, no speaking part, no official leadership responsibilities. In fact, having battled illness for about three weeks (including laryngitis) I went to the doctor the Monday before the program and begged him to fix me so I could sing by Friday. I couldn’t imagine not being able to sing at Christmas! I left the doctor’s office with a steroid shot and three additional prescriptions guaranteed to fix me up.

The night of our program’s dress rehearsal arrived, and I made sure to be early in order to secure a good seat in the middle of all the activity. I love to hear good tenors and basses behind me, as well as the best of the orchestra’s blend, so getting a seat in the middle of the choir loft is prime real estate for this choir nerd. When I arrived, my heart thrilled at the sight of a seating chart with the names of all those who had signed up to sing all three nights!  I had signed up the week before as an “all in” singer.  And then I saw the seat assigned to me . . . in the middle . . . of the second row . . . OF THE TRANSEPT BALCONY.

I’m at a loss for words to describe the many ways singing from the transept balcony is the absolute antithesis of everything I love about singing in a choral Christmas program. Transept singers can’t hear the rest of the choir; they—we—are basically a choir unto ourselves. Transept singers hear the section of the orchestra whose sound is most directly pointed towards them, in our case the brass section. Transept singers are unable to connect visually with the congregation, because they’re—we’re—technically singing from the congregation seats ourselves. Transept singers are often forgotten by leadership and left to our own discretion for seating and other cues. In fact at one point during the dress rehearsal this year, we were told just to “sit back and enjoy the show.”

And yet this year, I experienced the joy of singing at Christmas in ways unlike ever before.  God taught me some of the most powerful lessons I’ve ever learned from the middle of the second row of the transept balcony.

TRANSEPT BALCONY LESSON #1: Sing for Jesus always

For years I’ve known it in my head, and I hope it’s been a reality in my heart for a long time; but this year singing for Jesus became my primary reason for being a part of Candlelight at Dawson. It’s truly freeing and empowering for the Holy Spirit to “tune our hearts to sing His praise.”  Our transept balcony singing club started a saying during dress rehearsal in an attempt to encourage one another: “We’re singing for Jesus up here, because no one else can see us or hear us!”  What started as a kind of half-hearted hash tag became my genuine heart’s cry, and no doubt of other transept singers around me. “Lord, no one else may know I’m here, but You do. Help me sing with all my heart, soul, mind and strength for your glory.”

By the way, when you sing for Jesus from the transept balcony, it’s a lot like singing a full voiced solo while driving down the interstate when you know (or hope) no one’s watching. “All I want for Christmas is you…” In the transept balcony, you ARE Mariah Carey, only singin’ for Jesus!

TRANSEPT BALCONY LESSON #2: Serve others always

A precious, sweet friend who was singing in Candlelight for the first time said something so encouraging to me at the end of dress rehearsal. She said, “I know you don’t really belong up here, but I’m so thankful you’re here to help us first-timers.” And there were several first-time Candlelight singers around me in the transept balcony. Her words encouraged me to remember that we are to serve the Lord wherever we are. If He has led us to a place, then there is work for us to do there for His glory. “And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.” (Colossians 3:23)  What a joy it was to experience Candlelight with so many for the very first time.  What a great gift they were to me!  I even had the unexpected blessing of singing beside my daughter for her first Candlelight as an adult participant, a memory I’ll treasure always, (or as long as my memory lasts!)

TRANSEPT BALCONY LESSON #3: Search beyond the spotlight

There’s a whole lot more world outside of the spotlight than there is in its center, and those with less prominence have so much good to offer!  At one point in the program, the choir loft singers move to the aisles to light candles and sing the final two songs, leaving us transept singers in the balconies.  One of the directors pointed upward during dress rehearsal and commented, “there’s a lot of good sound coming from up there!” And indeed there was! There were so many talented folks all around me. It was a joy to sing our siloed solos together.

There also are a lot of needs in the darkness and shadows of the transept balconies of life. There are people who may once have been in the spotlight, but now wonder if anyone even sees them at all. Some long for connection to their Creator and Redeemer, so they’ve come ever so tentatively back to His Church; they long for acceptance and purpose. Still others just want someone, anyone to notice and acknowledge their existence.

 

May we all be more purposeful in the future to seek out those whom others overlook, and do The Work of Christmas long after the candles and spotlights have all been extinguished.

When the song of the angels is stilled,
When the star in the sky is gone,
When the kings and princes are home,
When the shepherds are back with their flock,
The work of Christmas begins:

To find the lost,
To heal the broken,
To feed the hungry,
To release the prisoner,
To rebuild the nations,
To bring peace among brothers,
To make music from the heart.

 (Text by Howard Thurman)

When I was in 3^rd grade, I got my first pair of glasses. I still remember to this day putting them on, looking out the window of Dr. Snellgrove’s office, and realizing for the first time that there were actual numbers (not just flashing blobs of light) on the time and temperature sign in front of the Greenville Bank!

When we got back home, I recall wandering around the yard just looking at the trees and sky, marveling at the clarity and definition of the leaves and clouds. For the first time, I was able to watch television from the couch with my family, and not sitting cross-legged on the floor in front of the TV.

The blurry, unclear, often dangerous world I had grown accustomed to living in suddenly gained focus, clarity, and became safer with my new glasses. It occurs to me that, more often than not, I choose to view the experiences of life without first putting on my spiritual “glasses.” Maybe you’re the same way. Here’s what I mean.

Looking at People

Think for a moment about the difficult people in your life–and we all have them. Sometimes people intentionally try to harm us, and sometimes really good people just make poor decisions that impact us negatively. Sometimes the pain of this hurt seems unbearable, especially when it comes from someone we’ve entrusted with the deepest, most vulnerable parts of ourselves. The world says we have every right to hurt them back; after all, they deserve it, right? How dare they treat me this way?

Now let’s look at the same situation through the lens of scripture. When we put on our spiritual glasses, things look much different. Jesus said, “But I tell you who hear me: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. . . Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.” (Luke 6:27-28)

 WHAT?!? Surely Jesus didn’t mean for me to love, bless, and pray for HIM—after the way he deceived and mistreated me! And Jesus never had to deal with HER, and her lies about me! I need to set the record straight!

Consider the example of Jesus Himself. As He was dying an incredibly brutal death on the cross, He prayed for His enemies, yes, even those who had tortured and beaten Him and nailed Him to the cross. He loved them—He loved US—with His dying breath.

“Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” (Luke 23:34)

 None of us is Jesus, of course, but as His disciples His Spirit lives inside us and we are called to follow His example. The reality is we all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God, and you and I need God’s mercy in our lives just as do those who cause us harm. Next time we are tempted to succumb to the angry, mean-spirited world’s way of dealing with human relationships, may we remember to stop long enough to put on our spiritual glasses before responding.

“Father, forgive _______, and help me to love (him/her) as you do.”

 Looking at Circumstances

 Think now about difficult situations you have faced or are facing. Perhaps it’s an illness or health issue. Perhaps it’s a financial struggle. Perhaps it’s the loss of a loved one, either to death or maybe loss of relationship due to personal decisions. Life is full of very difficult circumstances, made even more difficult if we only view them through the world’s eyes. Put on those glasses again. Everything looks very different.

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition with thanksgiving present your requests to God. And the peace of God which transcends all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:6-7)

“But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.” (Isaiah 40:31)

“But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.”       (2 Corinthians 12:9)

While looking at things through Heaven’s eyes doesn’t make all the pain go away, it does give us renewed strength and hope.  We see situations more clearly and in the reality of God’s eternal perspective.  As we go back to the Lord time and time again, He faithfully meets our needs and leads us down paths of righteousness for our good and His glory.

Adjusting to the Vision

Another memory I have of that first pair of glasses is having to adjust everything I did slightly until I got used to the changes they made in my vision. My depth perception was off for awhile, and I walked a bit clumsily, stepping higher than necessary to the place I thought was the floor. Learning to wear spiritual glasses also takes some getting used to as well, but it all starts with remembering to put them on. As we do, we’ll find focus for our lives, clarity of purpose, and a safe path along the journey of life.

Be Thou my Vision, O Lord of my heart
Naught be all else to me, save that Thou art
Thou my best Thought, by day or by night
Waking or sleeping, Thy presence my light

Be Thou my Wisdom, and Thou my true Word
I ever with Thee and Thou with me, Lord
Thou my great Father, I Thy true son
Thou in me dwelling, and I with Thee one

Riches I heed not, nor man’s empty praise
Thou mine Inheritance, now and always
Thou and Thou only, first in my heart
High King of Heaven, my Treasure Thou art

High King of Heaven, my victory won
May I reach Heaven’s joys, O bright Heav’n’s Sun
Heart of my own heart, whate’er befall
Still be my Vision, O Ruler of all

“Be Thou My Vision,” performed by Audrey Assad