Put on your mask first

Last week I was leaving Dallas to fly back home, sitting in a cramped airplane seat, when the flight attendant gave the usual safety spiel:

“In the event of cabin pressure loss, oxygen masks will drop. Secure your own before helping others.”

I’ve heard that line a hundred times.

But this time, it stopped me cold.

I had just finished speaking at a worship leader conference hosted by Lamar Boshman—a gathering full of powerful teaching, deep hunger, and honest conversations about transcendence in worship. The kind of space where people weren’t looking for the next catchy setlist, but for a real encounter with God.

We talked about presence over performance. About guiding people beyond the song into the sanctuary of His presence.

But sitting there on the plane, it hit me:

I was teaching something I hadn’t fully lived.

Not in a hypocritical way. More like... I’d been giving away the oxygen before breathing it in myself.

For the past few years, I’ve poured out—writing, leading, encouraging, mentoring. But somewhere along the way, I started confusing talking about worship with encountering God myself. I thought I was writing to help others. But many of those newsletters (like this one) were letters to myself, disguised as teachings to others.

That’s the real invitation.

Because if I’m honest, it’s easier to point out what others need—to call for depth, pontificate about wisdom, and authenticity in worship—without seeing the areas in me that are running on empty.

Lead yourself, then others will naturally follow.

So this is my reminder:
Secure your oxygen mask.
Not just once. But daily.
Before the stage. Before the song. Before the post.

Let His presence transform you first.

Let your secret be the secret place.

and let the secret place be a constant - even if you never stand before people again.

And if anything I share helps others encounter Jesus, may it be because I encountered Him first.

Now I understand how & why Paul can say “Follow me, as I follow Christ”. I used to think that was a little prideful of Paul… now, it sounds pretty normal - just “mere Christianity”.

Is God showing you something that’s first meant for you—not the people you lead, not the people you serve, but your own heart?