It strikes me that I am getting old, rather than mature (not sure I have reached those lofty heights yet). Recently I went shopping with my 13 year old and as we entered the clothes shop I heard myself saying "it's far too dark in here and I wish someone would turn that lively music down!" Words I did not expect of myself... yet.
I remember well rolling my eyes at my mum when she made similar statements many moons ago and now history is repeating itself. But genuinely, we could hardly see the clothes in this shop nor think clearly due to the deafening beat in our ears. "Well," I said to myself, "it is to be expected, you are getting on now (47)!"
But what I did not expect was a similar feeling at a Christian conference recently. Off I went for half a day, really wanting to meet God through worship and be touched by his Spirit. Granted I attended with a friend who is ten years my junior so when she suggested we attended the venue for 'younger' people I should have considered my suitability to it. But other friends, my peers, extolled its merits so I thought "great why not, I love lively singing", or do I? Honestly, I am beginning to rethink who I really am because although I enjoyed the evening, during the songs I felt as if I had joined a Harrison Ford movie set with its quick pace, loud background music and my breathlessness! I just longed for worship at a slower, more reflective pace.
I guess my bottom line is "lively is good, but sometimes you can get too much of a good thing!"
