I have a confession, Fruit Ninja can be addicting. There is just something about slicing fruit that makes you want to cut more fruit. As fun as it can be, from what I can tell there is one flaw with the program; you never have to sharpen your sword. Not so much with the life of an artist. There is some truth to the more you use a skill the better it becomes. Yet, for musicians in ministry, balancing love for God and people with the passion for the arts is something that always has to be in check. Musicians are not fruit ninjas, over the course of time and usage skills can become dull and lifeless.
For many, the things that we love most get put on the back burner. At least this is the way it seems. The idioms and passages that haunt this artist are “You make time to do the things that are important to you”, “You get out what you put in”, “to whom much is given, much is required.”. These maxims are annoyingly true. As an artist with a shepherds heart, it is always a struggle to find the balance in weekly ministry as a musician and pastoral responsibility.
Those of you who are worship pastors know what I mean. If you are in a church where your responsibilities go beyond musically leading worship services, then you have experienced the tension of balancing your artistic life and your weekly ministry duties. Most people do not realize that many worship pastors spend only a small percentage of their time (20% est) in the preparation and execution of music. This does not include personal musical development which is much lower. It is a catch 22. There is a desire to serve and be faithful servants of the Lord as shepherds and yet the heart and expectation is to be fanatically disciplined in pursuit of the artistic expression of that ministry. Congregations desire excellence and God deserves the best musicians have to offer. Yet, our daily responsibilities easily decay the musical disciplines and we lean on experience and “know how” to the detriment of our people and ministry.
I admit this has been the case for me in some of the seasons over 18 years of vocational worship ministry. This is not to say that I regret being focused on people, administration, leadership training, process, development, recruitment, teaching, counseling, and theology. These are essential to long-term successful ministry. Yet, within the heart of the artist the hunger for the time to create, express, study, improve at times go unsatisfied. For example, I would like to finish all the works of music in my head and get them on paper or recorded. For some who are self taught musicians they need to spend time working on developing their craft and learning the skills required for long-term ministry. What we tend to find is that our days are filled with administration, people issues, and pastoral care. (all good things) The creative artist is forced then to come out at night. For me it’s usually between 1-3am. Admittedly, this is not giving my best, nor is it living a disciplined existence. Although I have found benefit to working creatively at night due to the quietness of the world and removal of distractions, as shepherd artists we must find ways to quiet the world around us and create space for musical disciplines. So what should we do to seek a better balance of life, ministry and musicianship? Here are three thoughts that I need to take into advisement.
1. Time Blocking
Many executives use this skill to stay sharp and focused on their core skills and deepening their knowledge of life, business and leadership. As musicians and pastors we are often more A.D.D. than we want to admit and the demands of ministry can frequently trump our “schedule”. Overtime we just give up on scheduling because it seems useless to try. It is true that the work of the Gospel comes before all other things yet if we are not disciplined with our time we will grow shallow spiritually and weak musically. This is not good discipleship, leadership, or stewardship of what God has called us to do. Be sure to block time daily and weekly for the pursuit of your craft developmentally.
2. Have A Realistic/Attainable Plan
Once you have scheduling moving in the right direction, make sure that you set realistic goals based on the demands of your life, personality and ministry demands. Choose a skill per month to perfect. For example, maybe a guitar lick, scale or mode that gives you trouble. Choose one music history and music theory element to refresh or learn. For example, maybe refresh yourself on the development of tonality and harmony in the 16-19th centuries or maybe spend some time learning musical terms and expressions that will help your communicate with your musicians on a more professional level. Whatever you do, keep it simple and realistic, otherwise you will find yourself giving up on the pursuit. Lastly, use your schedule to plan out which of these you will tackle a few months in advance. Keep it fresh.
3. Stay Foundational
Keep it simple. Make sure that you are not looking so far down the road that you do not keep the fundamentals in tact. This is good for us spiritually as well as musically. Musically, play scales, work on fingering techniques, practice good breathing techniques for singing. You get the picture. Spiritually, read the Scriptures, pray fervently, humble yourself before the Lord.
Help!
A word to church members and pastors; please help us with this. As artists some of us feel guilty for spending time being artists. Many feel the overwhelming pressure to be excellent at “everything” at the same time and weekly at some level there is a temptation to “wing” it because time escapes our personal discipline. Guard the artists in your care. Protect them from their tendency of either being lazy in their musical disciplines and life or being so driven that they do not know how to stop long enough to consider their gifts from God and take time to be the person God designed them to be. I am humbly reminded that I still have to work at my personal disciplines. The key to long-term viability musically is found in being a disciplined disciple and musician. The two can and should coexist. “Lord, help me know how!”
Leaders, if you having difficulty understanding the artist in your care here are a few things to remember about most of us. The Artist Among You: What Leadership Should Know