a new favorite song

When I walked into the sanctuary on Tuesday, I had plaster of paris under my fingernails and hanging from the end of my ponytail. Watching the kids practice songs for We Are United, the musical undertaking of First Baptist Salisbury's first ever Summer Music Camp, was just an excuse to get to sit down for a few minutes away from craft supplies.
'This should be cute,' I thought. 'Or at the very least entertaining.'
Seeing Russ try to get 100 hyperactive first through sixth graders sing a song about Jesus complete with choreography seemed as though it would bring me some type of satisfaction.
I sat 3 rows from the front, right behind the group leaders who were looking a little silly doing the hand motions along with the kids.
"Ok guys are you ready to practice the song we learned this morning?" Russ was standing on a box wearing a Hawaiin shirt and yelling at the kids stuffed between palm trees on a newly tropical stage. "Everyone get in your places, look at me, we're about to start!" He turned to the back of the room. "Elaine, beginning of track 5 please."
The kids were chattering, but surprisingly attentive. Then it started. The swell of tribal drums. The huuummms of tribal singers. A light piano. Music.
The innocence and purity of Katie's childish voice caught me off guard. "...to realize my strength is your weeeakness, to realize my weakness is your stre-ength."
"How WONDERFUL!" I looked up just as the other 99 voices joined in. Hands waved through the air, right to left - "how BEAUTIFUL" - again hands waving in the other direction- "how GLORIOUS, how MARVELOUS singing praises to our God and kiiiiing as the kingdom of Go-ah-ah -od (thats God stretched out)."
If I thought earlier that these kids were hellions, rebels, demons out to get me, I couldn't remember it. Dusted in plaster, my eyes started to sting as the tears crept into the corners. I imagine it must be how moms feel when they see their kids doing something great, something noble and good. I felt so oddly proud. But also something more, some strange joy that I have concluded can only come from hearing 100 earnest, young voices singing to the Lord.
I once said that I didn't have a favorite kind of music. This week could have changed my mind. Never has a song, much less the same pretty cheesy in the kids musical kind of way song, stirred my heart to tears the way listening the genuine, honest praise of these children has. It's quickly becoming my favorite.
My kids (as I have come to refer to them ... I know, I'm headed to soccer mom-dom too fast) are putting on their musical production of We Are United this Sunday night (the 17th) at 6:30 p.m. I invite anyone reading this to come. These kids are amazing. I promise, I PROMISE you will not leave without experiencing real joy in the young voices that bring the message of Christ. I wish I could write sound down just so you can hear it now, but I guess you'll just have to come instead.