I never did it in combat. I was the commander’s radio operator and was usually somewhere in the middle of the column. But in training I sometimes got to be the point man. And, at least in training, it was something I was good at.
The point man, for those of you that are civilians, is the guy that is in front of the unit. He has to see what is coming before it becomes a problem. For example, I was leading a fire team through some pretty heavy brush. I rounded a bend in the trail and saw movement. I didn’t see a person, or the whites of anyone’s eyes. I just saw movement that was out of place. I called a halt and we were able to take out an ambush.
Sometimes people ask me why I want to be up front, why I want to lead worship. Do I crave the attention? Do I have to be noticed? I know my heart is “desperately wicked and deceitful at all times”, but I don’t think my desires are centered around self.
I think I like being the point man.
The down side of being the point man is that the enemy will see you first, shoot at you first. You carry the weight, the responsibility for all the lives in your unit. If you’re good, people live. If you aren’t, people die. Simple as that.
If I can lead people to worship the King of kings, people live. If I can focus all attention on His presence, the movement of His Spirit, people live. If I am attuned to His voice, speak and sing yielded to His leadership, people live. And yes, I will take the shot, if it saves their lives.
As worship leaders, we face attacks that others never see. We deal with issues and problems that others never think of. Our prayer life has to be tightened, our time in the word more disciplined, our submission to His will more constant, or people will die.
So to my fellow point men (and women), I salute you. “Be brave, be strong, for the Lord our God is with you.”
What an awesome privilege to serve and lay our lives at His feet!
The Healing Worshipper 