Give Me The Beat Boys

By Karen Friday

Have you ever lost the beat? Like clapping to a song? It happens in church and concerts. Out of sync people who merrily enjoy the music undaunted by their lack of groove.

My son Caleb’s natural flair for rhythm ups the ante in drumming skills. He rocks the house every week at Believers church in our worship band.

A bent towards keeping the beat runs in the family—at least for the guys. My husband Mike is a talented drummer. Like father, like son. Me? Not so much.

Mike and I started dating in college. He lived with his parents in town. Away from home, I grew fond of hanging out at the Friday’s. A poor college student in desperate need of home-cooked meals and family sentiments. Well, and the fact that a cute guy lived there.

A year into our relationship, I wanted Mike to teach me to play something simple on the drums. I’d have a cute instructor. It took a few months of determination to stay at it.

The lessons:

• Right hand hits (hi-hats) on all beats, 1 and 2 and 3 and 4 and (numbers + “and”).
• Right foot hits (kick/bass) drum on 1, 3.
• Left hand hits snare drum on 2, 4.

To complicate everything, hands were crossed.

Do you remember attempts of patting your head and rubbing your stomach? I mastered it. But not drums.

For weeks I practiced. My foot and both hands always ended up on the same beat. Unable to maintain beats separately for a keen and unified percussion sound.

The day came. I performed it perfectly for all of 50 seconds. I’m not cut out for the drums.

One of my favorite rock and roll oldies, Oh, give me the beat boys and free my soul I wanna get lost in your rock and roll and drift away (Dobie Gray, Drift Away).

Music beats won’t free my soul—in a spiritual sense. But I would like to expound on beats I’ve noted on my blog’s About page that are freeing.

I’m a little offbeat. Desire to be more upbeat. Sometimes march to a different drumbeat. But always with heartbeat! 

The Beats: 

Offbeat. Offbeat from the world (culture) and it’s philosophies. To lay down the expectations of others and my own of the typical pastor’s wife or Christian. What does the Christian life look like? It looks like Christ—in me. Off the beat of the world and in sync with Jesus.

Upbeat. A desire to look up. Fixing my eyes on Jesus as He goes before me and clearly marks the path of this disciple. Staying on rhythm in Him. Yearning for His beats in my life. Following His God-ordained plan.

Drumbeat. Marching to a different drum. Beats unfamiliar. Unexpected. Resounding, you are peculiar, chosen to “proclaim the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.” I Peter 2:9

Heartbeat. The driving center and pulse of my life. Christ. I can’t desire the world’s drumroll and follow the beat of God’s heart. I will drift away. Unable to maintain beats separately.

Have you ever lost the beat? Herein lies true freedom—my heart and soul in tune with the creator.

Recent video of Believers Church worship. Band includes Caleb on drums, Tyler (my son-in-law) vocals/acoustic guitar, Ben on electric guitar and our worship leader Justin vocals/electric guitar.

© 2016 by Karen Friday, All rights reserved