This past weekend was one of lots and lots of emotion here in the Lyons family.  We finished moving my oldest son, Phoenix, into his dorm up at Purdue (aka “the ONLY Indiana University” if you live in our house), and I’m not sure my wife has stopped crying yet (at least on the inside).  It was also a weekend for amazement and an object lesson in what it means to “always be ready”.

“Be dressed ready for service and keep your lamps burning, like men waiting for their master to return from a wedding banquet, so that when he comes and knocks they can immediately open the door for him. It will be good for those servants whose master finds them watching when he comes. I tell you the truth, he will dress himself to serve, will have them recline at the table and will come and wait on them. It will be good for those servants whose master finds them ready, even if he comes in the second or third watch of the night. But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have let his house be broken into. You also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.” – Luke 12:35-40

As many of you know, Phoenix was accepted into the Purdue Varsity Glee Club this summer, an organization I have always been impressed with.  This is its 114th year in existence – at a school without a music program!  In fact, the lack of a music program is, I believe, part of the secret of its success.  As a club that receives no university support, it is free of the pitfalls of church/state arguments, which means that it is able to unapologetically expect high moral fibre in its members and sing sacred music without fear of legal busybodies.  Each year for the past 74 years, the PMO has hosted a Christmas Show (not a “Holiday Extravaganza” or “Winter Concert” – a “Christmas Show”) that is nothing short of spectacular.  Typically, the first part of the show is traditional and modern, primarily secular, Christmas music with large dance/interpretive routines and lots of instrumentation.  The second part of the show is then a Christmas Cantata that rivals anything I’ve ever heard (and I’ve heard a LOT of college/professional choirs).  But I digress…

Back to this past weekend.

Last week was the ‘boot camp’ week for the PVGC up on Lake Wawasee in northern Indiana (about 3 hours from where we live).  About five weeks prior to this camp, Phoenix received a set of 70 songs that comprise PVGC’s traditional year-in-year-out repertoire.  Phoenix was expected to memorize the lyrics for all 70 songs and generally know his vocal part prior to attending camp, in addition to knowing the name, hometown, major, year in school and vocal part of each of the other 64 PVGC members (I honestly don’t know how he did it, even with the hours a day of study).  During the week of boot camp, the choir was then given an additional set of 10-20 songs for just this year.  Once the camp was complete, the men of the PVGC are expected to be able to perform any song from their repretoire.

At the end of the week, the Glee Club held a concert for the public, which appeared to be 700 – 1000 people with standing room only.  During the concert, their director handed an audience member a list of cards with the names of the 24 “new men” (including Phoenix).  The audience member chose one of the men by name, and he had to step forward and sing a solo number while the rest of the group ran out into the audience, before accompanying him in a seranade.  They did this with two additional ‘run out’ songs (though Phoenix luckily/unluckily was not picked).  Talk about being put on the spot!

I talked to Phoenix afterward, and he said that in their concerts, the PVGC men do not know what songs will be sung ahead of time, nor who the soloists will be.  They know the general length of the concert and who the audience is (which may help them guess a few songs, but not the order), but they learn which song (of the 80-90 they are expected to know) is coming next and, if applicable, who the soloist(s) will be, when it is announced on stage!!!  It is no wonder that their eyes never seem to leave the conductor!

As I pondered this on the 3-hour drive back home last Friday night, it hit me how much more this is like real life than how traditional choirs ‘perform’.  How often do we know ahead of time when we will be called on to be like Christ in a certain way before that opportunity actually presents itself?  How often do we know exactly when tragedy will strike?  How often must we be ready for whatever comes our way?

Remind the people to be subject to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready to do whatever is good, to slander no one, to be peaceable and considerate, and to show true humility toward all men.  Titus 3:1-2

Who is going to harm you if you are eager to do good? But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. “Do not fear what they fear; do not be frightened.” But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander.  I Peter 3:13-16

Just like the men of the PVGC, we must keep our eyes on the conductor at all times.  Otherwise, how will we know when He is calling on us to act – in concert or in solo?  We must take the time and be diligent in learning our repertoire, we have to keep our eyes on the Conductor of conductors, and we must be ready!