do you even have the range?

Y’all.

For those of you who know me, if we’ve ever talked about fears, I probably threw “change” into the mix. I. love. routines. I love knowing what’s going to happen, and when. I love when my expectations are met, how and when I want them to be. So I have to remind myself often that His perfect love casts out fear, because I truly just love being comfortable. Comfortable in my bed, comfortable in the back of the crowd, comfortable in the tenor section.

I’ve been in Baraka Kwa Wimbo, an All-Female Gospel A Capella Ensemble (🗣 BARAKAKAKAKAAAA!) since the fall of 2016. To be more specific, I’ve been a tenor in Baraka Kwa Wimbo, an All-Female Gospel A Capella Ensemble, since the fall of 2016. And I loved it. Yes, loved, past tense, because I am now a soprano *cue gasps*

it’s #concertszn (May 4th!!!), so range checks were in order, and we needed to move someone up to the sop section anyway. If you had told me it would be me, I would’ve laughed at you. I’m still laughing, in disbelief honestly. If I was just moving up to alto, eh, okay, I knew I’d be able to handle holding down the middle ground. All these years, it had been easy to stick to the notes I was familiar with while I sang in the shower, or for fun with friends, but there was no point holding back during that range check, so I didn’t. And now I can’t even feel uncomfortable about this change, because I heard myself do what was expected. I hit that E5 – I’d just never pushed myself to see if I could.

So surprise surprise, there’s been yet another change in my life. One I didn’t expect to happen, one I didn’t expect to be comfortable with. If God Himself would’ve told me I’d be switching sections, I’d assume He meant to alto, but He knows what I’m capable of and where and when He wants said capabilities on display. The idea of similar changes happening in academic or professional settings would be terrifying, but I have to remind myself that He’s just completing the good works He started in me, Philippians 1:6. I don’t have the script or the blueprint, but I do have His promises, and I’d rather hold onto those than to doubt or anxiety.

To answer my initial question, yes, like me, you do have the range. This is a gift from God I didn’t know I had, and it made room for me. Will I continue to grow? Most certainly. I can hit low notes I couldn’t when I joined Baraka, so I’m kinda excited to get familiar with a new domain. Familiar, not comfortable – clearly growth and comfort aren’t friends. If I ever write a post called “growing pains”, just know I’m picking up where I’m about to leave off (I have a 9:05 tomorrow – time to brush my teeth, say my prayers and sleep!)

be blessed bbys ✨