Man, I wish we would have hired Caedmon's...

I don't have many regrets in life. Sure, I've done plenty of things that I kind of wish I had done differently, or better, or maybe not at all. In fact, lots of things come to mind. And maybe I would feel differently about this whole thing if I had more of what I deserve rather than the blessings God has spoken into my life. But considering that the life I live at this moment is the culmination of all the decisions I've made (good and bad), and considering that I frickin' love my life, I don't look back and wish I could change very many things.

(Yeah, yeah, I know..."Whoever loves his life will lose it..." Well, when the Lord calls me home, I'll love that life too. Being happy in the moment is just one positive aspect of having a Sanguine-Phlegmatic personality.)

There is, however, one particular event in my life that I wish I would have done differently. All three of you that read this blog are probably thinking that I'm referring to joining up with Amway while I was in college. But no, even that little episode taught me some good lessons and established two solid lifelong friendships. Or some of you who know a little more about my sordid history may be thinking I regret my decision to get so deeply involved with Agamemnon. (Yes, in case you're wondering, I have indeed changed her name to protect the innocent. Come to think of it, neither one of us was innocent in that little fiasco, but everybody who needs to know that story already knows that story. And it's going to take a few beers to loosen up my tongue any further. I like Labatt Blue, by the way.) Although she may feel differently, I'm still glad that she and I dated. We made some bad decisions, and we got way too serious way too fast (Engaged after only three months? What were we thinking?) Everybody tried to talk sense to us, but we were too blind to see the mess that we were making. Even though it ended badly; even though we very nearly ruined each other's lives; even though I thank God almost daily that He directed us out of that situation with relatively little negative repercussion, I still feel like my life was blessed by hers. I really don't regret the overall experience. She was (and still is, I imagine) a wonderful person. We just handled the relationship very poorly.

Granted, those are biggies, but no, they are not the one past decision that keeps coming back to haunt me. My one big regret is hiring Bobby McFerrin to do a benefit concert for Christian Networks. Borrowing a phrase from my good buddy John McAlister, that whole thing was snake bit from the very beginning. Don't get me wrong, I really like Bobby McFerrin's music. I think he is incredibly talented. Did you know that "Don't Worry, Be Happy" was a joke that came out of Bobby's riffing at the piano, and it turned out to be a Top 40 hit? But his true talent is displayed in music such as his collaborations with world renowned concert cellist Yo-Yo Ma in reworking classical instrumental music into vocal masterpieces that only he has the talent to perform. Knowing this, my boss Gordy and I decided to hire him to do a benefit concert, thinking that the world would want to come see Bobby McFerrin perform and support Christian Networks at the same time.

BIG MISTAKE! The world wanted nothing to do with either one of us. We promoted that concert to no end. Billboards, magazine ads, radio spots...I was even interviewed on the radio about the concert and the ministry. We just couldn't get anybody to buy tickets. And the expenses were outrageous! Rather than raising money to support our mission in Africa, we ended up losing thousands. I lost my job. I'm not sure quite how much longer Christian Networks survived, but I think that concert kind of broke its back, and at best it limped on a little while longer before the whole organization collapsed. I don't know...Maybe it wasn't that bad, but it sure felt that way to me.

One of the concert alternatives that we considered, but pushed aside when we got on the McFerrin train, was Caedmon's Call. I knew who they were at the time, but I had not really gotten into their music yet. Now, I can't get enough of it. Bringing in their entire band would have cost us less than half as much as the "reduced" fee that Bobby McFerrin charged us to show up solo. And we could have done the show at a local church instead of the Rose State Concert Hall, again saving tons of money. Looking back on it now, we definitely should have hired Caedmon's. Not only are they absolutely brilliant musicians, but their music and ministry much better lined up with ours than Mr. McFerrin's. And one little call to K-LOVE would have packed the place out with Christian teeny-boppers and college beatniks. And how cool would it have been to go out to Denny's with Caedmon's and have another late night over pancakes after the show? Every time I put in a Caedmon's CD and have my heart touched by their music, I'm reminded of the concert that could have been. Man, I wish we would have hired Caedmon's.