God Meeting Me (and Wayne Watson) in the 11th Hour

The top picture was taken in early August 1996 in Caesarea on our last day in Israel. I was part of a large choir and orchestra who traveled to Jerusalem to celebrate the 3000th year of the City of David.

I am photographed with Christian singer Wayne Watson and this is one of my most treasured photos taken on my amazing trip. This story actually begins about 6 years earlier. I was fortunate to be part of a large multi-church choir who performed at The Checkerdome and The Arena each December with the touring Handel's Young Messiah artists. The artists ranged from the well known Sandi Patty and BeBe & CeCe Winans to Steve Green, Wayne Watson, Twila Paris, Larnelle Harris, Michael English, 4 Him and Steven Curtis Chapman. The list was long and, for anyone who loves Christian music, the list was impressive. As a special opportunity for the choir members there was a group photo session before each performance where the various artists would be on stage and allow a time for photographs.

If you were lucky, which I seemed to be every year, you would run into one or more artists back stage and sneak a photo with them.  Every year I was blessed to meet these amazing men and women and they would willingly allow us to take more up-close-and-personal photographs (OK, with Michael English he walked by me to use a pay phone I was standing next to. I hovered in his personal space waiting for him to finish so we could take a picture together. I kinda stalked the man, I must say. No I wasn't actually listening to his phone call, but he wasn't getting any privacy either! He was the hottest commodity in town at the time and there was no way he was getting out of it!!)

In all the years of performances each December my heart's desire was to meet Wayne Watson. As a brand new Christian in 1990, I listened to his music more than any other group or vocalist. His music continued to be my all-time favorite for years and years. I kept my eyes peeled annually hoping beyond hope that our chance meeting would happen. It never did and while I was totally in awe each year of the opportunities I was given to be a part of the tour, I left each year with just a little sadness that it was not in the cards for me.

The purpose of the Jerusalem 3000 tour is to perform the final Young Messiah concert, as well as other private concerts we had been rehearsing for 18 months. Allowing time for sight-seeing, word is spreading that Wayne Watson and Larnelle Harris are often sighted midst the various touring groups. My desire was simple and unchanged, silly even. But I wanted to meet Wayne and this was my last chance. But alas, despite many close calls, it just wasn't happening.

God being who He says He is, meeting Wayne Watson came in His timing. (in the proverbial 11th hour I might add.) Our final day, at our final concert following a whirlwind of concerts, rehearsals (call time 4:30 a.m. anybody?!) and touring, it finally happened. Finally. I don't recall the circumstances exactly but I think it was a sighting by a friend, who gently nudged me in his general direction. Cornered. OK, not really in the literal sense, but there he was standing in front of me. I quickly introduced myself and gave a brief testament to how much I love his music and then ask for a photo. My friends later razzed me about this, but if you look at his right hand he is holding a water bottle and his sunglasses. "Uh, Mr. Watson, would you mind taking off your sunglasses for me?" He obliged. I figured, hey, I waited 7 years for this picture. I want to be able to see the man, ya know?  I was a happy girl. Mission accomplished.

Surprisingly, despite my love of his music, I had never seen him in concert as a solo act. So years later in 2003 Tony and I attend a local church to see him in concert. A perfect smaller venue. Fortunately for me he invited his fans to approach the stage and take photographs at the conclusion. My husband, who is fully aware and supportive of my deep affection for him, agrees to the meet and greet. We hung back waiting for the masses to leave because anyone who knows me well knows that if given an opportunity, I will seize the opportunity.  I figured since I patiently waited the first time, God was making it easier on me for the next time. With only a handful of people behind me, I re-introduce myself and explain how we met in our last day in Israel and how taking his picture with me was a dream come true. Hearing that I was part of the trip, he asks if he can finish meeting the other fans and spend a little more time with me to reminisce. So he and I spent a dedicated time talking about the trip, our favorite sites and concert moments--and of course conclude it with pictures. My husband, out of boredom probably more than my benefit, snapped a few candids of us talking.

 

 

Not to discount the majesty and beauty and incredible nature of my trip because words cannot express how awesome that opportunity was--but, when its all said and done, it is the little things that stand out. And this one is the one for me.