Today I directed our ward choir in performing two hymns for ward conference. We held a practice on Wednesday evening and another this morning, an hour before the meeting was to start (8:00 AM! Blasphemy! ;-) ). We sang I'll Go Where You Want Me To Go as a prelude piece immediately before the meeting started. Then, about midway through the meeting, we sang a nice arrangement of The Iron Rod.

Directing the choir is becoming one of the more fulfilling things I do now. I still feel a little intimidated by the calling, but  I am getting more used to being out in front of people waving my arms. I keep feeling like I should be telling people to be looking up more at me while I am conducting, but sometimes (if the sound coming from the choir is good) it is kind of more comfortable realizing that people are focused on the paper in their hands instead of looking up at me. This is starting to sound like some kind of metaphor for leadership. I think that what I have learned about leadership is that when you are placed into a leadership position it starts out feeling bewildering, but that you do become accustomed to it which can be both good and bad -- good because your confidence grows, but bad because you can become complacent and forgo continuous improvement opportunities. But at least you do get used to it!