At Jodi's reception this afternoon, I was caught off guard when one of our assistant music directors mentioned that Fr. Dave wanted to know if I'd like to say a few words to Jodi. My first thought, which I voiced to Matt, was that I'd already said what I wanted to to Jodi during the 8:00 mass when, during the sign of peace, I told her, "Hey, this isn't goodbye, y'know?"
In the time it took him to walk around the table, I realized that I wasn't being asked so much to say something to Jodi as being given an opportunity to honor her, and I realized there were actually one or two things for which I really wanted to affirm her, that I thought were really important for her to hear, and which I knew no one had yet addressed, nor was likely to. So I called his name before he could walk away, and nodded that yes, I'd like to say something, and said the same to Fr. Dave about thirty seconds later when he approached me with the same question. Just a couple minutes later, it turned out that I was up first. (I am invoking my right "to revise and extend my remarks.")
I started by referring back to the tumultuous years between when our previous successful director, Dawn, had left, and when Jodi had finally succeeded her. We went through four transitions in three years, as her three predecessors just didn't quite fit for one reason or another. The stability Jodi has brought to the music ministry over the past eleven years has allowed us to grow in ways that just can't happen when there is that much turmoil. Since then, through many changes to the choir in the meanwhile as folks have arrived and left, the repertoire we've established has both expanded and deepened, as we have learned so much wonderful new music and better honed the older pieces we do. And our familiarity with each other has helped us know what's likely to happen next in those moments of uncertainty, such as when that first downbeat is going to drop even when there hasn't been a head nod to warn the guitarist that it's coming. (At that point Jodi grabbed the mic to explain how often she'd left me hanging, and how I'd learned how to "be there" anyway as a result of our years of working together. Oh, and I hadn't really planned any of this, but that part hadn't even entered my mind but an instant before it came out of my mouth.)
I went on to the single thing I've most appreciated about Jodi, out of which all the other things (and there are many, many other things) grow. It's one thing to have a director who calls you to excellence and won't settle for anything less than your best effort, who has the skills and the insight to bring that out of you. It is quite another when the basis for her leadership is her own relationship with the Lord and the entire music ministry grows out of our shared spirituality. It isn't just that the music has been so excellent, through her hard work as well as ours - that in itself would be a laudable thing. Even better, it has been an offering of praise and worship, not just of the choir and music ministry but of the entire community of faith. As wonderful as excellent music is in and of itself, it is this basis by which God transforms it into a manifestation of God's glory, which draws others into his transforming love.
As those at the reception acknowledged the truth they'd heard, there really wasn't any way to then go back and speak of her patience with us, her affirmation, her development of our skills and the chances she has given so many of us to grow musically and in public ministry, nor of the caring, loving environment she has nurtured in the music ministry. But I did make sure to hug her in a quiet moment before leaving, to take the chance to tell her that I love her and that we'll see her soon. I'm so glad she isn't going anywhere!
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