The Unsung Heroes

About 10 years ago I saw No Doubt and Cake in concert at Desert Sky Pavillion in Phoenix. I was a fan of both bands at the time, and I really, really, really was looking forward to watching Cake's guitarist. Being a guitarist, myself, I love seeing how different genres of music are played, and what makes each type of music different. I had a great time watching this guy. He appeared to be only about 5'3" and he was playing a full-sized Gretsch guitar that covered most of his body when he squatted down. After playing five songs, it was obvious that the band was disgusted with the lack of fan participation and walked off-stage. They didn't feel like the crowd was "responding" to them and so they didn't think it was worth playing any more songs.
Why do I tell this story and what does it have to do with Unsung Heroes?
After playing guitar at Palm Valley Church, for 2 1/2 years, I've become inspired by certain crowd members when I'm playing. As a Christian, I play for God, and I would show up to play if only a handful of people showed-up to worship every week. Yet I find that in the midst of the 2000 people I can see from the stage every week, I am constantly drawn to about a dozen people,who consistently show-up and remind me of the importance of the job I have been given. I may only be the guitarist (the one who doesn't wear shoes when he plays), but I know that the role I play in a church service is important. Maybe it inspires people to live differently, or gives them comfort in their lives, or maybe even changes their lives' forever. They don't realize that they are of any significance to me personally, but I look forward to seeing them the weeks that I play. So, as not to name names... thank you to the people who inspire me to be a better worshipper!
PS- I was prompted to write this, when I noticed one of the dozen people walk-in depressed this morning. It was obvious that something had gone wrong that morning, but through the course of the first three songs, you could tell that the problems had melted away, and hope for a brighter day had been restored. Thank God there is a bigger picture than our tunnel-vision can sometimes see!