The Turn

Mary stood in the garden weeping. She had come looking for a body, and the body was gone. Everything she expected to find was missing.

And then Jesus was standing right behind her.

She did not recognize Him. Not because He had changed, but because she was looking in the wrong direction. Her grief, her confusion, her assumptions about what should be there all kept her from seeing who was there.

Then He said her name. And she turned.

That turn is everything. It is the Christ-centered posture at the heart of worship. We come to rehearsal, to soundcheck, to Sunday morning carrying assumptions, expectations, and sometimes grief. We are looking for something. And Jesus is often standing right behind us, waiting for us to turn.

Worship leading is not about getting it right. It is about getting turned around. Facing Jesus instead of facing the room. Facing Jesus instead of facing our insecurity. Facing Jesus instead of facing the Christ-centered posture we think we should already have.

The turn is not a one-time event. It happens every week. Sometimes every song. And it always starts with hearing your name and choosing to look.