The Choir Member Who “Improved” the Song

During choir practice, Martha — bless her heart — decided she would “improve” the alto part.

She didn’t tell anyone.

She just… did it.

Halfway through the song, the choir director stopped, squinted, and said, “Something in the room is creative, and I need it to stop.”

Everyone looked around. Martha raised her hand like a kid caught with a cookie.

“It might be me,” she said. “I thought the song needed a little spice.”

The director smiled. “Martha, we love your enthusiasm. But if the altos add spice, the tenors add spice, the sopranos add spice… suddenly we’re not singing a hymn. We’re making chili.”

The choir laughed, Martha laughed, and she gladly took the correction.

Point: Constructive criticism isn’t meant to shut down your creativity — it keeps the whole body working in harmony. Sometimes the most spiritual thing we can do is accept that our “spice” isn’t needed.

A foundational wisdom passage in Proverbs 15 states, “The ear that listens to life-giving reproof will dwell among the wise.  Whoever ignores instruction despises himself, but he who listens to reproof gains intelligence.” Proverbs 15:31-32 

Proverbs 27:5-6  “Better is open rebuke than hidden love. Faithful are the wounds of a friend; profuse are the kisses of an enemy.”

May we grow to acknowledge helpful instruction when presented and not be easily offended. Pastor Larry