Facing A Potential “Most Embarrassing Moment”
As a pastor, preaching is part of what I do. Granted in my current role as Director of Outreach/Connection I don’t do it as often as I have in the past, but it remains a part of my skill set and I look forward to having opportunities to speak.
On Sunday I had the chance to preach and I was excited to unpack Psalm 27 as a part of our “Summer of Psalms” series. However, as I mentioned I don’t do this regularly anymore so I spent a good couple of weeks meditating on this scripture, researching, writing, etc. I wanted to make sure I was prepared.
Needless to say I was excited for Sunday to roll around and and I felt ready to share the message that God had placed on my heart.
As is always the case when it comes to public speaking, I get a little amped up and nervous before hand. It’s like the excitement before the big game. In general I don’t think this is a bad thing, but I learned on Sunday that this “excitement” mixed with a lack of breakfast can have serious consequences.
As I made my way up onto the stage to speak I began to feel a little weak and this only continued to get worse as I started introducing the subject and passage for the morning.
I went from simply feeling shaky, to feeling a little lightheaded to breaking out into a cold sweat.
Not good.
As I did my best to calmly continue with the message my mind was flooded with distracting thoughts…
…”Am I going to faint”…”If I do faint, who is going to take over for me”…”I don’t think anyone else is prepared to get up and speak”…”Should I just go for it and see if I can pull this off”…”should I mention to everyone that I don’t feel well”…Am I going to be able to preach again if I pass out up here”…”Can everyone see me sweating up here”… etc., etc. etc.
After just asking everyone to stand while I read the scripture passage, I myself had to take a seat on a nearby stool to avoid a dramatic fall. From there I continued the reading and upon completion explained that I was feeling faint and asked for a glass of water.
Fortunately everyone was incredibly gracious and after a couple of moments sitting down, getting a sip of water and regrouping I was able to continue.
…But what If I couldn’t have continued?
What if I had passed out in front of several hundred people…?
That would have been incredibly embarrassing and would undoubtedly leave me with a good amount of emotional scar tissue.
Fortunately, I was able to avoid a grandiose meltdown, but it was close my friends, much too close.
In between services I had several people come up to me offering food and I took them up on it. There was no way I was getting back up on that stage without some food in my stomach and a boosted blood sugar level.
That did the trick and second service went off without a hitch. But it could have been bad and would have without a doubt been my most embarrassing moment.
If you don’t mind sharing, what is your most embarrassing moment?
Posted on July 12th, 2011 by David | 17 Comments »
so very glad you made it through. Don’t know if I have a most embarrassing moment, I tend to embarrass others before myself.
I’m glad I made it through as well. It was pretty touch and go for a minute or two. I really was trying to figure out what would happen if I took a nose dive. Who would come up and preach? What would they talk about?
Hopefully there aren’t too many people who have most embarrassing moments that include you. HA!
I have so many – I honestly don’t know WHERE to begin. First let me just say that your story is wildy reminiscent of the feeling I get sometimes when I have to sing a solo in church. Wow. I can relate. Greg has a nervous stomach and feels like this when Sunday morning rolls around if he’s in ministry anywhere – it’s been our life for 30 years. Steve Severyn used to upchuck when nervous – he was Susan Ross’s assistant music director for about 6 years at New Life. One memorable time – the youth choir was singing and he had a trash can by him – and while the youth choir was singing – he was quietly upchucking in his trash basket. Oh yes. I didn’t witness it first hand – but the teenagers in the choir DID. And they told EVERYONE. It was quite the moment for him. My MOST embarrassing moment (I have several) was when I was 16 years old. I belonged to something called Junior achievement. A club sponsored by business men to encourage and develop and encourage youth people in the work force. Anyway our club was choosing officers and while still voting – someone whispered to me that I was getting most of the votes for President. I was quite smug and proud that my little impromptu “speech” had left everyone wanting more and actually voted for me. And I raised my hand and asked the adult in charge, “Do I get to pick my OWN Vice President?” It was bold. It was risky. But it felt so good to be voted in. Well needless to say after the votes were counted – I DID not win. I had to sit through the entire evening with another president and vice president GLARING at my audacity the whole time.
Another near embarrassing moment would be upchucking all the way to the doctor with a bad migraine and Greg driving. I was upchucking in a New Life Church bucket – and we were stopped at the intersection. Oh yes. Good times.
I definitely get the nervous stomach before I have to speak, in spite of the fact that I really enjoy it.
Cindy, those are some pretty great stories. I think we should start a “Most Embarrassing Moments” blog series.
Close call, man! I’m glad you made it through!
You and me both Tony. It would not have been fun to pass out in front of several hundred people. Not to mention the fact that it would have really screwed the service up.
I know that feeling, Dave. In 8th grade I actually did faint, at the Christmas concert. I was in the 3rd row of the Junior High choir. I felt queasy and started edging for the end of the platform. I never made it. The gym teacher caught me on the way down.
It’s one thing to faint in private. It’s another thing all together to do it in front of an audience. I definitely learned my lesson and will make sure to eat before I do that again.
Whoa dude. That’s crazy. I think I once heard that public speaking is the #1 fear for Americans. Even over death. Crazy right?
I’m glad you are OK. I would just suggest you imagine the congregation in underwear next time, even to just help you relax.
You’re right Moe, so many people HATE public speak. I personally really enjoy it even though I get nervous before hand and in general I don’t think people can tell that I’m nervous.
On this particular occasion however, I think I had a little too much adrenaline going, and low blood sugar and it was a near disastrous mix.
Even though I have to do it all the time with work…. I loathe public speaking.
Glad it went well!
(Funny enough, check the blog today for a pretty embarrassing moment of mine. LOL)
Thanks Dustin, I’m glad it went well, as well. I think public speaking is a lot of fun, but like Moe said, lots of people “loathe” it. I’ll make sure to jump on over to the blog.
http://abrahamchronicles.com/my-navy-blue-shorts/
This is somewhat embarrassing, but I thought of this story. I was ministering in a place where I was leading worship and then bringing the word, but my family had been sick all week and I had taken care of them. I was fine when I got there, but by the afternoon, I was exhausted and had to take a nap. I got progressively worse through practice and worship. I had the cold sweat and knew a ‘ralph’ was imminent. I told the band to go on to the next song and then I’d be back. I made it to the bathroom and lost it all over the place (at least it was close to the toilet). After several minutes and a poor attempt to clean it up, I went out, told everyone I was feeling very good, but that I had a word and wouldn’t be long. I preached (rather subdued, of course) and then collapsed into a bed soon after. I always felt bad for whoever had to go in and really clean it up. I still visit this church and apologize from time to time. It was nuts, but a great story!
That is INCREDIBLE! I can definitely relate to the cold sweat. I was really in trouble, but fortunately I wasn’t dealing with a stomach issue like you were. Way to pull it together and finish strong!
Glad you pulled through and survived. I’ve passed out before at Costco because of dehydration. Not my finest moment.
One time at my first church I was late for service because I was in the bathroom.