I don’t really know what an ode is. I know it has something to do with poetry, but I feel like it should mean tribute. So that’s what I’m using it to mean. On Sunday, I said good-bye to Fallon. I hate good-byes. She is moving to Australia to go to Hillsong International Leadership College; she’s probably on the plane right this very moment.
She sang one last time at Seven24 on Sunday, and it was glorious. I’ve had this discussion with her before, but she is one person who really seems to know how to worship God through music when she’s on stage singing. When I sing up front, I confess it’s often hard for me to concentrate on what I’m singing and who I’m singing to. It’s a constant battle between helping others worship by providing a pleasing sound for them and therefore focusing on the harmonies and technical aspects of the music and fully worshipping God personally. I’ve often wondered about whether or not it’s possible to do both. I usually write it off as when I’m up front singing, that is time to serve others, and help them worship through music by providing a good sound. It doesn’t mean that my heart is not in the right place before God, it just means that those times are designated to honor God with the gift he gave me by blessing others with it. When I’m not up front that is when I can focus on how I want to worship God on my own. I like to worship on my own by signing the songs and by closing my eyes, falling on my knees, lifting my hands. I don’t want to distract others by doing that up front on stage. It makes me feel like I’m putting on a show for everybody. So, I usually keep it separate. Fallon, however, has spent a lot of time discovering how to combine the two, and it shows. Watching her sing, whether she’s leading the song or singing back-up, you can tell she is so in love with God and that she is telling him so at that very moment. Her worshipful state makes it easier for me to worship. This fact has thrown off my “keep it separate” motto because she helps others worship by worshipping personally. Now, I must say that Fallon is a little better in the musical talent than I and therefore, I don’t think she has to concentrate on it as much as I do. She can close her eyes to focus on God when she’s leading, but I have to look at the words or nervousness overtakes me due to my doubt in whether or not I really have the song memorized. I talked to Fallon last week about how to worship while being on stage. She gave me some good tips. One that I really like is meditating on the words in the prayer room before performing them. That really helps in instilling the words and meanings for me personally since there’s not as much thinking and reflection time while on stage.
She sang “Hosanna” and “You Won’t Relent:” two of my favorites for her voice. She sings it with such passion that it’s easy to cry the lyrics out to God along with her. When she sang “You Won’t Relent” at the end, that’s when it finally hit me that she was leaving. I hadn’t gotten emotional about it previously—unusual for me. I love songs with lyrics taken from Song of Solomon anyway because of the different expression of God’s love for me, so hearing those words added with the reality of such a precious friend leaving for who knows how long brought the misty eyes. Christy Kiley put a video of it on Facebook if you want to watch it. I couldn’t figure out how to post it on here.
I’m realizing that it’s hard to sum up a person like Fallon. The best thing I can say is that she touches the life of everyone she meets. When I first started coming to Seven24, I hadn’t had the chance to meet her for a while, but her name seemed to be on everyone’s lips and was spoken with such admiration. I couldn’t wait to finally meet her and find out what it was about this girl that made everyone adore her. I did indeed have the chance to finally make her acquaintance, and understood why she seemed so special to everyone. It usually takes me a while to trust people on a deep level, but when I met Fallon, I knew immediately that I could trust her with anything, and not only that but she seemed to have a lot of wisdom that I was eager to learn. I was so blessed to go through “Every Thought Captive” with her. I was challenged, encouraged, and prayed for by this amazing woman who had the ability to make me feel like she was on my same level even though her wisdom surpassed me.
I wish she wasn’t leaving, but I am so excited for the lucky people in Australia that get to meet and get to know this very special woman of God. Australia, you better watch out! God is sending an amazing surprise your way. You will be so blessed!
In honor of my dear friend, the voice on my GPS speaks with an Australian accent. I love you, Fallon!
1 Comment
January 21, 2009 at 3:33 pm
We will all miss Fallon hugely. You are right that she is spoken of often and with great admiration. She is moving when on stage and I’m not sure if we all realize what we are losing in her leaving. She will be blessed in whatever she does.