E Pluribus Unum

Last night I did what every good Texan does on a Friday night. I attended a high school football game. I love football, but I'm also one of those guys who will just not miss the half-time show. I'd rather miss part of the third quarter to get something to drink, than miss the marching bands. When I was a student, I can't remember missing a game from 8th grade through my senior year. And in every one of those games, I was on the field at half-time marching with the band.

Watching the amazing bands last night brings back memories, but I also came away with some observations. I remember playing my saxophone but not being able to hear the rest of the band because sometimes we were all turning in different directions. At times, it almost sounded like I was playing a solo.

But now I have a different perspective while sitting in the stands. I hear the entire band. When you're on the field, you know there are dozens of people dressed in a uniform just like yours, but you still feel somewhat isolated. It's possible to feel that what you're playing is insignificant and no one can hear it anyway. But when each individual does his or her part, and combines that with all the other musicians, the full sound in the stands is spectacular.

Each individual band member is not only playing with all the others, they are also marching in step with all the others. And the drumlines are amazing to watch as they not only play the same rhythms, but their right and left hands are moving exactly in sync with the other drummers.

A good half-time show takes a lot of effort. It also takes a director to coordinate everything and drum majors on the field to keep everyone together. But when each individual does their job and plays their notes correctly and marches where they're supposed to go, the results are magnificent. It reminds me of our national motto - e pluribus unum - "out of many, one." And that is not only how our nation should be, and a marching band should be, but also how members of the church of Jesus should be.