Punt
On a long enough timeline, we all need to punt. What does that mean?
It’s an American football reference. If a team fails to move the ball down the field ten yards in four plays and they are too far from the end zone to attempt a field goal, they are forced to punt (kick) the ball to the other team. Hence, to “punt” means to do what you have to do when your other options are gone.
Did you have to punt during the Easter service?
Our church did. Midway through the second high-energy song, the electric drum set just…stopped making sound. Ian, that morning’s drummer, checked the cables and anything else he could think of. After a few seconds of frantic, bewildered attempts, he punted.
He pulled the cajon out from behind the drum set, brought it to the front, sat down, and proceeded to arrange the rest of the set on a very different percussion instrument. A few seconds later, Allen, the sound man, came up and repurposed the crowd mic, placing it in the cajon soundhole. The worship leader, Floribeth, made a comment about not having to rely on any instruments because we are the true instruments of worship, and off we went.
It was a heroic team effort! A punt.
I don’t believe the congregation took much of a hit. The team adjusted, didn’t make a big deal of it, and kept the main thing (worshiping the Lord) the main thing.
Punting in American football is just part of the game. The players don’t throw fits, break down crying, or yell at the refs because they have to punt. (Well, usually.)
When we find ourselves without other options, take it in stride and keep your eyes on Jesus as you handle the realities of the situation.
I’d love to hear your stories of having to punt and what you learned. I’m sure there are quite a few! (put them in the comments below)
Oh, so what caused our drum set to stop working? Turns out, the PreSonus StudioLive board just switched the input from Network (using the stage box) to Analog (the unused inputs on the back of the mixer). Why? We haven’ t figured that out yet! Nobody was touching the mixer when it happened.
-Dave Helmuth
Author of the Five Faders and Founder of Ad Lib Music
Punt (Nº 473)
