zero360/music press life’s edges into song

What We Leave BehindPosted by Angelo Melendez on December 31st, 2007

If all we take with us from this place is memories, it’s those same memories we leave behind. I’m searching right now on many different fronts, life is way more complicated than I feel like messing with, but it’s here, it’s now, and I’m grateful for the time I’ve left. I just want to make the most of it.

As I was cleaning out email clutter earlier today I came across some sound advice my cousin sent a few months ago. I’m thinking it’s just what I need to walk out to get 2008 off on the right foot. Hope these few phrases by Mother Teresa put a new spin on things for you — they have for me. Happy 2008!

People are often unreasonable, irrational and self centered.
Forgive them anyway.

If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives.
Be kind anyway.

If you are successful, you will win some unfaithful friends and genuine enemies.
Succeed anyway.

If you are honest and sincere, people may deceive you.
Be honest and sincere anyway.

What you spend years creating, others could destroy overnight.
Create anyway.

The good you do today, will often be forgotten.
Do good anyway.

Give the best you have, and it will never be enough.
Give your best anyway.

In the final analysis, it is between you and God.
It was never between you and them anyway.

Path of Least ResitancePosted by Angelo Melendez on December 29th, 2007

Ever notice how water makes its way to the lowest possible point and finds a way to keep going? It’ll seep through air pockets leaving behind what may amount to just a trace of moisture, but it’s still water finding its way. Light, too, makes its way through cracks, though not dependent on gravity for a path of least resistance. Light can make it through a pinhole, and is visible when enough darkness surrounds the entry point. Both water and light are keys to human existence.

Among the many powers of light are that it can show us the right path to take, provide warmth, and reveal imperfections and potential dangers in our surrounding. Have you ever taken a walk through the woods on a moonlit night? Sure, it’s scary, but imagine trying to do so without the aid of the moonlight. As light peers through a thick wood it creates shadows in open areas suggesting pathways, but can’t reveal the “big picture” of the landscape until more space allows the light to flow freely.

In the context of my spirituality, it’s the light of truth that shows me who and what I really am. Without it I’m left to my own devices to figure things out in a maze of self-sufficiency. Obviously, there are many sources of “self help”, most of which come at fairly substantial costs, to try when I’m feeling like I can’t find answers of my own strength. Everyone has an opinion to share, there are many herbs and concoctions for this and for that, and I can easily fool myself into thinking the answer is in the next approach I take toward creating a “better me”. There is no easy answer or silver bullet for me. I struggle with my faith, but my conviction is such that I know swimming upstream against the current of the secular-progressive mindset is the only way to go for me.

Worldly distractions do well in keeping me from seeing the big picture. They are the forest that turns the moonlight into shadowy glimpses of true inspiration. Striving toward materialistic accomplishments spends my energies and mindless use of leisure time fills my tank with unfruitful desires and goals.

Where do I go, where do I turn?

First, I need to get to the lowest place where the water can find me. When I’m constantly perched on the pedestal of my pride the water doesn’t find its way to me. I get thirsty, and stay thirsty until I humble myself and acknowledge my need for living water. It’s there in abundance, inviting me to drink. Next, I need to evaluate my environment and surroundings and make required changes to ensure I’m exposed to the light that enables me to grow in my knowledge of and desire for the Word of God. I just need to take the path of least resistance to the open fields of grace God grows and nurtures for each and every heart that believes.

Black, White & BluePosted by Angelo Melendez on December 24th, 2007

It’s simple really, truth, that is, being black and white, or is it? Whether content in the morning newspaper or words from ”well respected” people, religious (Bible, Koran, etc.) or science books, truth may shake out as black and white - so long as the words and information line up with our personal beliefs and convictions.

I believe there are absolutes, mathematical certainties, for instance. But it seems we’ve become so individualistic that truth now hovers on the fringes of relativity. Truth, once associated deeply with honor and morality, is now a conjoined triplet consisting of personal preference, scientific exploitation, and legalism. The values that brought this nation through growth pains like Civil War and The Great Depression, and even 9/11 are being wrung from the fiber of our souls by anarchist cult minded factions with hopes of leveling the world’s humanistic playing field into a single world order.

Moral truth is watered down and scoffed at by the media in the name of liberating us from accountability and morality. Our “new societies” enable the criminal by creating legal loopholes in the name of “freedom”. Who suffers? The innocent. The parents of molested, murdered, or missing children. Small business owners and corporate America are victimized by thieves, one gets robbed at gun point, the other by greed, corruption and deception. Our legal system is handcuffed, the criminals rarely getting just punishment for their crime. But things are getting better - right?

WRONG!

Like it or not, there is no magic potion. Man is corrupt of heart by nature, and the more rope we get the longer before we hang ourselves, it’s just a matter of time. Funny how the media makes such a big deal about the fighting in Bahgdad, but not gang warfare that’s dismantling once thriving neighborhoods. Bleeding hearts pump fists for social preference rights and illigal immigration, the ACLU drives special interests, as automated phone systems are programmed for multilingual options, such as “Press #1 for English” and elderly Americans who paid their dues can barely afford basic necessities and have to scrap to cover medical care and medications.

WAKE UP!

If truth was ever black and white, it’s not any more. And, if fundamental believers (NOT RADICAL BELIEVERS) don’t start making noise and standing up for values based on integrity and honesty, we just hand the trophy of our freedom over to the puppets who don’t have the guts to get bloody fighting for our country or the freedoms they enjoy. They are just watching, learning our weaknesses (very well I might add), and waiting until we fell asleep at the wheel. Seems we have the radio blasting on 10, the windows down, and enough Starbucks in us to kill a horse, yet we’re swerving all over the road, the wreck’s about to happen. Pull over.

Think about it all… get mad, do something. Get a little black, white, and blue.

Don’t Want to Miss ChristmasPosted by Angelo Melendez on December 5th, 2007

I want to make all my friends and loved ones happy, spread cheer and buy gifts, tis the season… put the star on top of that blue spruce pine and hang oversized fluffy red stockings on the mantle. Let’s trim the porch with multi-colored lights, set  santa and his reindeer on the front lawn, and plant gumdrops in the icing of our gingerbread house. I don’t want to miss Christmas.

What about a gift for a child who’s mom and dad are out of work and hurting, a few extra dollars for the frazzled waitress at the diner, or bringing some fresh baked pumpkin bread to a lonely neighbor? It’s time to reflect on the good and bad from this past year, the gains and losses, the bearing of crosses, the beauty of a star shining brightly in a cold winter sky, and the hope made available to all by the virgin born child… you don’t want to miss Christmas.

TimingPosted by Angelo Melendez on December 2nd, 2007

This passed weekend is a blur… the gig at Americana was cool. Not a big audience, but the sound was warm and natural, and the other writers in the round made it a most enjoyable time. I played as well as I can expect for not having done a live performance in a few weeks (at least not one playing and singing my own songs). The Larrivee I’m prospecting is sweet, it’s going to need some tweaks, but it seems to fit me as well as any guitar I’ve played. Depends on whether the timing is right to work out a deal for the instrument.

Then today, we were quite unexpectedly blessed by Matthew West, a Christian artist out of Nashville who’s songs have been riding CCM airwaves for a few years. His gifting, only superseded by his heart for Christ, truly inspired me both spiritually and musically. Matthew’s song “Only Grace” spoke deeply to me first time I heard it some 18 months ago; now to hear (and sing along to) his live acoustic rendition, which brought the congregation to a tender place of worship, really stirred my heart.

Surely Matthew being at church today is another example of perfect timing. Seeing then meeting him capped a really cool musical weekend that started after work Friday preparing for my Saturday round. Though I knew I’d only play 9-10 songs Saturday, I wanted them to sound as good as possible — the preparation definitely paid off. The lyric rewrites were 90% or so on the money, and my latest piece “Back to Me” ended up being one of my best performances of the day, at least to me.

It would be easy to say today’s service was just another service… but it wasn’t. It was way special. The choir pulled off an amazing Christmas song in an African tongue the congregation worshiped to. Pastor Rick laid his heart out there with a message on the true meaning of giving — and nailed it. All this, plus seeing Matthew West’s approach to excellence, inspired me to take my writing and spirituality to a new level… by grace, and only grace, I pray I do.