Rhythms and Randoms

I have holed myself in the small corner of my room with my laptop after an exhaustive session of recording and mixing. I am working on a collaboration project with a friend of mine. The concept is taking life and its ammunition is causing me to stretch and expand my current style and capability. It's hard, but it's nice to be pushing myself outside of my comfort zone of creating music.

As I've tried this new style it has loosened tidbits of treasure from seemingly scorched land. The sky has opened its arms and the horizon seems to inflate. Its broadened borders offer both the comfort and the challenge that I have much to learn. I am excited about this new land. A new playground to explore.

Has your creative land expanded lately?

What are you doing to stretch beyond that which you are currently comfortable?

Lesson: Don't Rush

Lessons come in different packages. Some are small and gently tug your conscience, and others are boisterous and unexpectedly pimp-slap you. The former are nice to have, but sometimes it takes the latter for you to be able to drink in reality as it should be.

In my mind I had pieced together everything that needed to happen over the course of the next few months: handing in my two week notice at my current position, pack up all that I own (which is hardly much, but more than I need), and move to Charlotte. And I truly hadn't thought much more in depth than that.

I have been the king of quick decisions in my short span on this earth. I have picked up and moved to Portland(OR), San Diego, and Raleigh(NC) with intermittent stops back in the homeland of Virginia. Never thought twice, just moved.

And here is Wisdom that has shifted my world off-axis: Those who make haste with their feet err.

Period.

August Rush

Holidays are wonderful because you finally have use of a thing that seems to elude you the rest of your days; time. Its seems that the world hunches over with his hands on his knees to catch his breath for a moment, before starting to run again. And the luxury afforded is the choice of what to do with your time.

One of my choices this weekend was to take in an anticipated movie (for me) with my family; August Rush. I thought I knew what expect from the film, but I must say that I was delightfully surprised. The weaving of the story was beautiful with rhythms of time moving back and forth, and melodies that pervaded this haphazard family to become a beautiful song and uncover the bonds of a family yet fated to be.

I thought that Keri Russell and Freddie Highmore did a wonderful job capturing characteristics and reflecting each other in mannerisms and actions. I would definitely recommend this for your viewing pleasure.

Ah yes.. the holidays

Friends and family I welcome you to the insanity that is the holiday season. A time when Christmas music clogs the airways, and decorations are set out so early that I feel I may be celebrating the wrong holiday. It seems to begin creeping in earlier and earlier every year, and it causes me to want to sing Deck the Halls as I munch on a plate of turkey.

I don't mind Christmas music, I actually enjoy listening to Christmas music at various points in time during the year. Strange, I know.

The one aspect that I do not enjoy about the holidays is the gruesome travel days before the main events. All of America seems to leave at exactly the same time and cause trip times to suddenly double. But, the outcome is worth the effort in getting to see friends and family and share the joy of being able to be together.

Fiendish Beast and the Song Beneath

It is often found sitting in a small undisturbed corner of my mind. It sits singing a familiar song and seems to be harmless enough until I venture closer and discover that its claws have been tearing at corners of my mind, and at the edges just past consciousness. This little mongrel is all the unspoken fears and lies that I have "heard all my life". It seems innocent enough until realizing that its been quietly eating at my dreams and aspirations since birth.

Recognizing it is one thing, dealing with this vile thing is quite another.

Starving artist is its song, and how I've listened to the melody, convinced that the gifts and passions that I have amount to drivel in the "real world". Pray tell, who has defined the value of these gifts in the "real world"? Why have I bought into something spoken as fact without evidence, as meat without substance?

That little "it" should never be my focus. There is a song that plays deeper, whose melody is masterfully plucked, and whose ancient words whisper life into things yet crafted. These words are True words, these words are life to beaten bones and broken spirit. Gifts given were not gifted in vain. Purpose will not lie in slumber any longer. The Master Artisan breathes life into unseen depths and the spark draws breath beneath the babbling chorus of the creature that seems not to perceive its end. Change is here. I can feel it.

Been wonderin'

Sorry first to blogland for neglect. My intent is not to leave you hopeless, but hopefully breathless. The tornado that has been my week touched down early Monday morning with a co-worker spat. By middle week, if verbal abuse was manifested physically, I would have had a black eye, busted lip, and cracked ribs.

I've healed slowly, but perspective has been rendered anew. Life is much too short to not be doing what you are supposed to be doing. Fresh eyes through trials is a blessing in disguise. It's funny how random things help adjust the view in your mind. A concert and a fight at work have me really thinking. Charlotte ... I'm wondering.

Life is beautiful..

I feel as though I just realized that I have been trying to carry my horse. The simple act of recognizing the issue; staring that awkward rhino in the face and telling him he looks ridiculous tip-toeing about. Admitting it, I think, is half the battle. And then it's the wonderful sense of relief that you get when you realize that these symptoms are common to all people in some form or another.

It's been a wonderful reading about the reasons why I do what I do to avoid doing what needs to done. (Try to say that sentence several times fast, and if you didn't follow the logic, it's okay; I had to read it several times to make sure it actually made sense). And this is the really and truly beautiful part about it. I have been doing something about it. No longer will I simply acknowledge the rhino's presence. No, now I'm teaching the rhino to dance.

Here's the practical: Big project? Break it down into bite-size pieces. Take a bite at a time.. don't try to fit the entire meal into your mouth at once. It sounds and is simple. But it is absolute music and freedom to someone who tries to do everything perfectly and conquer everything on my own. I now understand the perspective from Proverbs about the sluggard and the diligent. Diligence isn't conquering in one take, it's doing small steady things to bring it together.

Rant over.

The photo is from Gilad. He has some pretty incredible photos if you ask me.