I wish it could be this way all the time…

So, I donated a professional music group to a Young Women’s fundraiser this evening. It took me from about 3 pm to 10 pm, door to door, to put it on with all the equipment we lug and the timing of our performances. Plus we had an hour long rehearsal beforehand with a developing musician I’ve been helping (more on that later). On drums was a member of our Stake Presidency who used to be my first call drummer before he branched out into a busy Top 40 group I helped start, and then left….

Had a good time hob nobbing and joking around with our Bishop, helped a man on the autism spectrum get experience playing live jazz in a real jazz setting (a non-member) — where you just show up and react to whatever the band leader calls for songs. He struggled but he makes progress every time I bring him on to a pro bono gig, his third one now — this one at church.

Connected with a few people I had helped years ago and who still remember it. One in particular, this formerly awkward 12 year old from a poor family I helped get started in music. She spent an hour talking to me about music and her plans for life, and had grown into a socially adept young woman of 17 or 18 or so. I was impressed at how SHE controlled the conversation when years ago, I could barely get her to talk. For having a rough time of it five or six years ago, she has emerged very together and mature, socially adroit adult. Her life is firing on all cylinders, plans to go to college, and has expanded her instrument repertoire three-fold from the initial lessons I gave her on ukelele five or six years ago. She sought me out, and apparently still remembers those times with appreciation. She insisted on helping me carry all my equipment to my vehicle, which I appreciated.

A woman who I thought was pretty arrogant was very appreciative of our “donation” (half the band were non-members) and talked to me on a non-arrogant level at length. So, a wall was broken down. There was a good, happy feeling in the Ward overall.

It underscores for me the importance of serving in ways that make you happy. I love to play jazz, and this was a way I could donate my time to the church in a non-doctrinal way. I felt part of the ward, the second time in a couple years. I firmly believe in saying “no” when they want you to work inside your weaknesses.. And I believe in saying “yes” in initiating service in ways that speak to your passions and talents…tonight was a case in point.

This plan I’m on, of only selecting those things that bring me happiness, inside or outside the church, has been a very positive principle to land on. Much better than the morass of shoulds one has to navigate through…

Just thought I’d share that one. Mormons can be very good people to get along with if you can take some of the other stuff out of the experience