Going into the 6^th grade, I was pushed into joining the band by my parents. My aunt, a recent high school graduate, had played the Flute. So, it seemed logical that I should play the Flute since we had ready access to one. Two weeks into the school year I still hadn’t made the thing produce a sound. It also occurred to me that I looked pretty silly trying to play it. So, I asked the Band Director if I could switch to Trumpet. I never knew if he misunderstood me or simply chose to boost a section that needed members, but the following day I was presented with a Trombone. I tried to protest, but was told this is what I’d be playing. So, I learned the Trombone and grew to love it.

Fast forward a few years to my freshman year of high school. I came from a middle school where I was not only the sole Trombone player; I was the only low brass guy! Now, in a low brass section of 8 Trombones, 4 Euphoniums, and 6 Tubas, I was in awe! However, I was severely shy and by far the weakest player in the line. So my Section Leader (a senior named Paul Ross), took me under his wing and taught me how to truly play my horn. He also worked on getting me to loosen up and shed the shyness. Our friendship grew that year, but we never got too close because of the age difference. I knew he was a Christian, but never thought much of it.

Two weeks after the school year ended and Paul graduated, he called me out of the blue and asked what I was doing the following week. I confessed to having no plans. He ordered me to pack a bag; I was going to camp. My first thought was “Band Camp?” “No”, he replied, “CHURCH Camp.” My mind raced to find an excuse, ANY excuse, to get out of going. I figured my parents would forbid me to go. They both grew up Catholic and went to Catholic schools complete with oppressive Nuns and the works. They’re both Christians and raised me and my siblings as Christians, but they’re very much against organized religion. So, I asked them if I could go, knowing the answer would be “no.” I’d be saved! To my shock and horror they agreed and even encouraged me to do it. So, with no way out, I begrudgingly accepted the offer.

Talk about a fish-out-of-water. When we arrived at the camp, I couldn’t possibly have been more uncomfortable. I knew no one except Paul and a cute blonde freshman named Lisa (also from the band). I was still very shy and didn’t make friends easily (I still don’t). The first night at camp, there was a concert by a well-known (to everyone but me) Christian artist named Al Denson. Now, Paul was overly social and sort of spastic. So, he and his posse (me included) were on the front row at this concert. Paul danced like a maniac while I stood by mortified with my arms crossed trying to disappear. About mid-way into the concert the absolute worst thing imaginable happened. Al Denson noticed me… and noticed that I wasn’t dancing, wasn’t having a good time, and apparently didn’t want to be there. So, what does he do? He tells me to come up on stage. I flat out refused. No way. No how. NOT gonna happen. So, Paul and one his buddies PICKED ME UP and carried me up onto the stage. If I could’ve willed myself into dying right then, I would have. If I could’ve made my legs work, I would’ve run out of there. I was NOT having a good time, but ol’ Al was just getting started. After asking me what grade I was in, he called for volunteers, specifically a female SENIOR. Oh, but it gets better… Now what do you get a ridiculously shy freshman guy to do with a cute senior girl in front of thousands of people? You make him dance! But first, you make him hold the cute girls hand! And, not just “hold her hand”… oh no, that wasn’t good enough. We had to interlace our fingers like we were really a couple. At that point even the girl got a bit shy. I have no idea who she was, but I apologize for what must have been extraordinarily sweaty palms. About this point I started to get a bit fuzzy around the edges and my memory is a bit blurry. But, Al taught us some goofy dance to do, mostly just hand gestures. I bungled my way through it... badly. After what seemed like HOURS, but was probably just a few seconds, Paul and his buddy joined us back on the stage and started dancing like wild men. At least the focus was probably off of me for a moment.

I don’t remember much more about that night. But, the following morning EVERYONE in the camp knew who I was. I got some supportive comments, some giggles, and several sympathetic looks. There would be no more hiding this week. So, I figured I might as well embrace my new found notoriety and make some friends. I didn't exactly realize it at that point, but God had my attention. He had shaken me deeply and my eyes were opened for some new and very different information that was about to be thrown at me.

That night (night #2) there was a guest pastor speaking about Jesus and salvation. I’d never heard any of that, but it hit a nerve. I spent the following days pestering Paul, Lisa, some other students and the adult assigned to our cabin with questions about how all this worked.

“Why aren’t dinosaurs mentioned in the Bible?”

“How can the story of Adam and Eve be true when we evolved from monkeys?”

“Why hasn’t science proven God is real?”

“Why does science seem to prove that God ISN’T real?”

“If God is real and he loves us, why do bad things happen to His people?”

I failed to get a single answer I considered plausible. Nevertheless, my desire to know more grew exponentially. By Thursday night (night #5), I was ready. Looking back, it seemed like an eternity, but it had only been a few days. I seemed to instinctively KNOW that this was right... and true... and real. I told Lisa and Paul that I was ready to accept Christ and that evening during the service I made the LONG walk down the aisle. Both Paul and Lisa joined me in support.

I don’t remember much about “getting saved.” I remember it was emotional and all three of us cried (a rare occurrence for me). And, I remember clearly knowing that things would never be the same… and they weren’t.

It struck me some time later how events had been orchestrated to get me to camp that summer. Had I continued with the Flute, I wouldn’t have been friends with Paul. If I had switched to Trumpet as I’d wanted, the same thing would’ve resulted. What appeared to be a random mistake set in motion a series of events that fundamentally changed my life.

My walk with Christ has revolved around music since before it even began.

Epilogue: I continued to be very shy through the remainder of high school. My first girlfriend, now my wife, had to ask me out the first time. As a new Christian, I got far more wrong than right. It wasn’t until I joined the Marine Corps after high school that I shed most of the shyness and solidified my walk with Christ, becoming a confident Christian. I’m still very much a work-in-progress, but I’ve come a LONG way since being drug to church camp and carried up on that stage…