Some of you may recall that I played the trumpet from 5th grade through 12th. Being at my high school last week reminded me of our band director, Gabriel Baltazar.
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| The Kailua High School band room. |
Mr. Baltazar played in the Honolulu Symphony and taught trumpet privately. Although he was a professionally trained musician, his real love was directing. His strength was in taking a bunch of ragtag young musicians and forming them into one of the finest bands on Oahu at the time. His rehearsals were more like gym workouts than musical events. We students never felt we were there to please and amuse ourselves. We did our best all day, every day. We showed up ready to give our director whatever he asked of us.
It was in that practice room that I learned one of life's most important lessons. I learned that to be a part of something great is better than being considered great. As a band member, you never just thought about yourself. You wanted to do your best as a way of honoring the efforts of those all around you.
That's a lot like what the Lord designed the church to be like, don't you think?