mellow | ˈmɛləʊ |

adjective

1 (especially of a sound, flavour, or colour) pleasantly smooth or soft; free from harshness

2 (of a person’s character) tempered by maturity or experience: a more mellow personality. • relaxed and good-humoured: Jean-Claude was feeling mellow. • informal relaxed and cheerful

As someone who usually tours around the world for 20 weeks a year, and is generally in charge and constantly barking orders to local production crews on the road, this is one area of my life that I have not spent much time on – keeping my heart mellow.  But during this COVID season, I really tried to put time into this area of my life.

I have been touring with Hillsong bands for 14 years and often heard our bands sing and worship to the song “Hosanna”, and namely the lyrics “Break My Heart For What Breaks Yours”…….  On the Gallup Strengths Finders, Empathy is on the bottom of my list, and therefore something that I need to work on.  It makes me think that there could actually be more people out there who are like me, and so hopefully this helps you.

So how have I tried to keep my heart mellow over the past 9 months??

1. Don’t try to fight the season.

• • It is happening to everyone all at once.
  • Look for the good in it all, even lockdown if that is possible.
  • I encourage you all to keep reading your Bible apps. It will help guide your decision making in all situations that you face….

2. Worship always.

• • We are part of the Creative department and therefore we should be the ones leading in praise.
  • I do this in the car, mowing the lawns and sometimes at work with the headphones. Some work colleagues even know how much I love Christian music, and would share great songs/albums that they enjoyed with me.
  • Great for turning your focus off yourself and your particular situation and turning it towards the face of God.

3. Socialise when and where you can.

• • I am not suggesting to burn heaps of money, but more just have people over for lunch/dinners, or coffee with friends.
  • When socialising, don’t just talk about work – talk life and love and family.

4. Be open to feedback or correction.

• • It has been interesting times navigating this new normal, and have needed people around me to slap me over the ears and pull me back into line.
  • Feedback is something that I now go out and ask for from people I trust.
  • This season is all new for all of us, and so having people speak into our lives is vital to help iron sharpen iron.

5. Have fun as much as possible.

• • I have loved being on the side line at my son’s under 6’s soccer games and yelling from the side line at the coach and players…

Steve Pippett
Hillsong Tours Production Manager