We Need a Drummer

A communion meditation by Judy Sobba at Twin Oaks Christian Church, Eugene, on January 1, 2012.

One side of our church's reader board recently had what some would consider a strange statement.  Our son Scott, a pastor, saw it recently and chuckled.  He thought it was funny.  It says simply, "We need a drummer."  He understood it and so do our members but I wonder what non-members think of it?  There are church signs all over town that make perfect sense, but this one says, "we need a drummer."  Of course, it refers to our praise band whose regular drummer is at home in Portland while the University is on vacation.

Mike and Susan and I were talking about this and it started us thinking.  Yes!  We do need a drummer.

What does a drummer do?  Keeps the beat so we can stay together when we sing or dance.  Keeps us going when we tire, like a military drummer.  Marching bands, when running around the field, if they can hear the drummer, will end up in the correct place, while keeping the beat the whole time.  Drummers, along with the drum major leading a parade, inspire us.

Now it is a New Year, a new start, a blank page.  But every day of every year, we need a drummer, our own personal, spiritual drummer.

We have a drummer, of course, and he is Jesus Christ.  His word helps us find the "beat in our lives," if we listen.  He keeps us going when we tire.  He keeps us moving together as Christians toward a common goal -- salvation.  He leads us in this troubled world and in our lives so that we don't get lost in all of our running around.  As Psalm 18:3 says, "I will call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised; and so shall I be saved from my enemies."

We will follow our drummer, our Lord Jesus Christ.  We will listen to his word.  We will find the beat and rhythm for our lives.  We will worship, study, work, and pray with others to move together in faith.  Even if we scatter in all direction at times, like the University of Oregon marching band, the steady beat of God's Word can keep us from getting lost.  We only need to listen carefully, pray with faith, act with sincerity and honesty, and trust that God is leading us.

May we listen and pray now as we recall that when Jesus lived on this earth, he gave his apostles continual guidance and reassurance and then, on the night before he died, he said, "Take this bread and eat it for this is my body," and "take this cup and drink.  Do this in remembrance of me."  And so the beat goes on!