When pastoring in Willits, California, I was often asked to do the chapel service at Deep Valley Christian School in Redwood Valley.
I’d often do the music as well. One particular chapel I decided to put together a little band (recruiting students I knew that played guitar, drums, etc.) and do some of the old surf instrumentals! To the kid’s delight (mine too!) we did classics such as “Pipeline’ (The Chantays); “The Victor” (Dick Dale); and miscellaneous other surf-concoctions, along with some praise choruses, etc.
It was so much fun being with those Jr./Sr. high school kids! The energy; the response! It all reminded me of the fun I had when I was their age, both listening to the music and playing in different bands.
It brought back memories of my first band. I think I was a freshman in high school. There were two of us: me and a kid down the street named Jim who had a snare drum and I had an electric guitar with a cheesy little Montgomery Ward amplifier. For our first practice, Jim used a trash can lid for a cymbal!
Our first song was called “The Fly.” Our second big hit was “Driftwood.” Our name? Jim came up with “Woody’s Wild Ones.” He envisioned a picture of Woody Woodpecker on the bass drum, pecking out our name!
We soon changed our name to The Vandals (Franky Valey, Martha and the Vandellas, Richie Valens — why not The Vandals?”).
Soon another kid named Eddie joined the band, I advanced to a Sears Silvertone “Piggyback” amplifier with reverb, Jim got a cymbal, and we started to sound pretty good!
We’d practice at night in my garage and the neighborhood kids would come and sit in the driveway and listen — until the cops came and shut us down!
So what’s the point of these thoughts? As I look back over my life I see how the Lord has opened doors of opportunity for touching people’s lives, based on abilities, talents, on past experiences I’ve had! Perhaps you are wondering about this very thing: “How can I make a difference for God with my life? What do I have that can be an ‘instrument of blessing’ to others? Is there something I can do that might be helpful, encouraging — even inspiring to others?”
To this very day the heart of “Woody’s Wild Ones” still lives in me: I love making music that others enjoy (me too!); I’m really gratified, content when I have the opportunity to play my guitar in church, particularly with the worship band.
So, what are your special endowments from God? Unique life experiences? Aptitudes? God gives us these things to be used, to be enjoyed, to enrich our lives as well as those we share with. There may be opportunities available that have gone unnoticed!
As Jesus promised: “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you” Matthew 7:7.