What do you do when you are torn between two “good” pursuits? This is my dilemma.

I have played guitar in general for over 37 years, starting at age 17. I never did learn much beyond some basic chords, barr chords, and a little (very little) picking. But I strum well enough, and I love to sing.

Two years ago, I began to study classical guitar. At that time, my goal was to hopefully improve my overall guitar playing skills. But, I quickly feel in love with the classical style. I began to think that it might be a good tool for ministry. In my mind, I thought that it could be used as a tool to “draw” people, and possibly open up a door for ministry. I pictured myself, sitting on some park bench in some foreign land (or even here in the States), playing classical tunes. I pictured people coming to sit nearby to listen to the beautiful sounds. I pictured myself being able to share testimony with them, and some of those people accepting Christ.

Of late, I think I have either become burned out with the classical guitar, or God is trying to open my eyes to something. I struggle to even want to practice it, knowing that I will face many frustrating hours of trying to learn that one piece, or even that one line of music. If I continue, my goal would be to become as near to “professional” as possible, but not with the focus of fame or fortune, but to use this for the Lord.

About 4 to 5 months ago, I began to pray a specific prayer. I began to wonder if my pursuit of the classical guitar was a futile effort that was only wasting precious time. I reasoned in my mind that I could still accomplish the ministry goals that I have, playing the standard plectrum (acoustic) guitar and singing. As I said, I love to sing, and singing comes natural to me. I pictured two different scenarios, both of which still trouble me. The first scenario, being that I would come to the end of my life and regret that I put down the classical guitar…that “What If” question at the end of my life. The second scenario, being that I would regret time, energy, effort, and money being put out on something that I was not able to succeed in. While all along I could have been investing more time to leading worship, singing, and ministering in that specific way. I began to ask God what I should do about these two troubling scenarios.

So you see, my question is: “What should I do?” Should I continue to strive for that goal of “professionalism” with the classical guitar? Or should I set that goal aside to focus on just simply strumming and singing?