"You're too sensitive...."

[HelenaZF]

YOU'RE TOO SENSITIVE.





How many of us have heard that indictment from leadership and others? It seems to be a wide-spread perception that worship arts people are just "hard to handle, unpredictable, moody, touchy" and otherwise just generally spacey and off in their own little world. We encounter it everywhere we go.



There are those in leadership that don't know quite what to do with their arts ministers, so they don't do much of anything except try to rein them in when they seem to get "out of control". So you end up with highly skilled. creative and yes, SENSITIVE people (that God MADE that way for a reason that we'll talk about in a minute...) that go virtually unpastored, misunderstood and are generally marginallized.



Now understand here that of course, there are situations that are marvelous and some of us do minister under the authority and care of perceptive and skillful leadership....but I have to say that from our observations, that is not the norm.



WHY ARE WE SO SENSITIVE? I often wonder why that isn't obvious to people. God made us that way so that we could see beyond the normal, feel past the ordinary, and create things with a fresh perspective. That takes sensitivity, and openness to think differently. Because of the overflowing fullness of what God has built into us, we risk moving out in areas that others are inhibited in--expressions of dance, art, prophecy, presentational offerings that affect and move others just because they are visual, experiential and well.....out there for everyone to see.



So why is sensitivity seen as a negative, rather than the gift and model it is meant to be? I think one reason might be that it demands engagement, often in ways uncomfortable to others. People don't like having your guts all exposed in front of them. And yet, isn't that what being a worship artists is all about? It's about bringing the inner things to full physical and public expression.



We see the outpourings of King David's heart....a sensitive artist expressing himself fully to his God--not always just overflowing in joy. Sometimes fully enraged, frustrated and wailing and yes, even complaining. And yet some might see it as someone throwing a royal tantrum. Being around someone who feels and expresses deeply and completely can be challenging when you have been taught all your life to keep your feelings to yourself. And those that are more successful at that, can tend to look at those without such "self-control" as somehow damaged or problematic.



It would be such a joyous thing to see sensitivity in worship artists celebrated instead of being seen as something they must "get over" or "mature past". Thank God for the true pastors who understand and tenderly care for the dancing, painting, singing, song-writing flock. That particular pasture of sheepies need a special kind of shepherd. One that will help others understand the uniquely transparent life that they live as worship artists.