ESPERANZA SPALDING – “Overjoyed”
Feb 8, 2010 sojourn
via youtube.com
What a great song choice and incredible talent! Nuff said.
Mike Shirkey for Michigan State Representative 65th District
Feb 6, 2010 sojourn
via mikeshirkey.com
I met Mike Shirkey on Hilton Head Island (HHI) some 9-10 years ago, a chance meeting that became a lasting friendship. We’ve missed our annual rendezvous on HHI for 2-3 years now, but do stay in touch… the news of his decision to run for state office comes as no surprise.
Mike is a man of integrity, one of those rare breeds, a blend of intellect and wisdom, generosity and compassion, and at the end of the day one heck of a nice guy (pretty darn good golfer, too). I’m so proud to say that I know Mike and his beautiful, sweet family, and hope his run is successful and fulfilling, not jus for him, but for the state of Michigan, which he dearly loves.
Momentary Lapse
Feb 4, 2010 sojourn
Today I spent time kicking gravel on a trail just south of Grandfather Mountain. Instead of following the cut path toward the sound of running water, I try to stay in the sun as much as possible (it is winter) until reaching the stream at the bottom of the foothill. About to dip my hand in expectantly frigid water, I hear the meeting facilitator say, “OK, break, let’s be back in 15 minutes.”
I [think I] was only day dreaming for a few minutes, but it made for a great afternoon.
Manifold Rumination
Jan 31, 2010 faith
One down, 119 to go… seems almost unimaginable that we’re done with the first month of the new decade.
It feels like I need more computing power in my head just to keep up with all I want to do and know. I’m feeling scattered, smothered and covered (not unlike Waffle House hash browns, yum!), I want answers, resolution, progress and joy. I’m reading books on who I am and how to yank it out of me, and just finished “Have a Little Faith” by Mitch Albom. I’m deep diving some thought provoking blogs, and delving into new territories of research at work. No new [finished] songs yet for the year, but there’s lots cooking.
To say I’m living in a whirlwind is an understatement, not just my own life, but the world seems one imbalance away from us having to navigate our existence as never before. From the disaster in Haiti to the often unheeded warning signs about to cause unprecedented fiscal and moral catastrophe within our once beloved borders, our once respected America. It’s almost like “we the people” have been hypnotized or we’re hibernating, will we awaken, snap out of it?
The political blame games, the Fed, the lack of reverence for human life, the expulsion of God from society, the ACLU, ACORN, the demise of capitalism, on and on… yet, special interest agendas and rights for individuals (not the people) constantly appear to be trumping common sense and civility. I cringe when I hear the folks crying out for unity and harmony, then see our “leadership” Mirandizing terrorists who want to inflict carnage on our own soil, what? To those who complain about having to take their shoes off at airport security because they see the shoe bomber’s attempt as a one-off mistake, are you for real?
Many ask, why can’t we all just get along? I guess I’d answer with another question: who is the “we”?
In my circle of friends, at home, at work, for the most part, we all get along. But there are certain neighborhoods near the very house in which I live, not so much. Forget about taking a late night stroll through once prospering neighborhoods in high profile cities like Atlanta, LA or Dallas, not wise, not safe. No need to go into what other countries do to people who inadvertently cross a border or disagree with a fundamental nationally imposed belief.
Conflict breeds innovation and war: yin and yang. The heart of man is a vile, corrupt. We tolerate and accept ideas and doctrines either because we’re forced to or because we’re too lazy to confront, perhaps driven by apathy. Some write endlessly about how one president or another is goat or hero, while the Fed, an unregulated entity, continues printing treasury bills, egregiously adding to the debt our children’s grandchildren will be accountable to cover in decades to come (FYI: the national debt is a a stack of $1000 bills that’s eight (8) miles high).
The shell game goes on, the media tells us what they want us to hear, the suspicious dig for truth. There is a body of folks that just wants to live equitably and nobly being worn down by big government, and social agendas that don’t even begin to solve real problems. Like the campaign promise rehash we got this week (aka State of the Union), and the finger wagging, see things my way or else, it’s a broken record — one that’s played over and over, the needle is dull and the static growing louder.
It’s January 31, 2010, only one month into the new decade, so much has transpired. In the news, in my own head, in my very life. Funneling it all into manageable chunks I can process and filter to keep my being moving forward without being overwhelmed is not easy, not at all. I can chose to put my hope in man-centered efforts and ideologies or have faith in the unseen.
I choose the latter. Not to impose, not to shut out those who don’t believe or agree, but hopefully to be a better me, as part of a better place, for the sake of better times.
Change in Plans
Plans for today were altered late yesterday afternoon. I’m learning to step back and respond vs. react. Yes, I’m disappointed in the fact my plans changed because of mis-communication on the part of someone else. Hey, stuff happens, and for today, I’m very grateful it does.
Just before heading out, I was catching up on email and read a great message from Skip Ewing. Then I watched and listened to “Juliana’s Smile,” totally moved by the compassion of message and the stunning composition by Skip. Sure hope you take time to do so as well.
After a bit of shopping, I came back home for lunch and finished rearranging the A/V components in the living room, a work in progress over the couple of days. To test the sound I popped a CD in, one I’ve not listened to in years. I was also in the process of zapping a cup of coffee with the intent of turning the system off and spending a little time in my home studio, if nothing else, to at least mess around with some rhythm tracks and learn more about Logic. But I got caught up in the beauty of Yo Yo Ma’s exquisite performance with the New York Philharmonic. Could it be this is why my plans changed? The house is quiet, I’ve got a mug of hot coffee in hand and Lord knows I could use some quality quiet time.
The journey through two concertos, one by Antonin Dvorak the other Victor Herbert, was exhilarating, yet relaxing. And, as I read the liner notes on the backstory of the relationship between these composers, and how/when these compositions came to be, I was reminded of how fleeting this type of dedication is in today’s world of music composition.
Once the concertos were over, I end up in my studio, thinking about the tie between Skip’s work and that of two master composers. Though Skip’s piece and video are just over 4 minutes, there is nothing less moving about his work. I needed to spend time today as I did, to be reminded of my own need to dig deeper and be more purposeful with the art I create, and to enjoy the art of the masters much more often.
What I Need
Today was the first day of my Christmas vacation (yay!). I got a bunch of stuff done, mostly because I planned to do so. Around Thanksgiving I promised myself I’d balance relaxing this holiday season with being productive, both practically and creatively.
It’s late in the afternoon, just before supper, I’m heating up a little left over coffee and for some reason got to thinking about my needs in life and realize, I don’t have any true needs. I get 3-squares a day, am blessed with a warm comfy house, made home by my family who I’m able to provide for by virtue of employment I’ve so fortunately retained during the see-saw year we all just went through.
But there are those with needs. Real needs for basics and necessities. On my a list of things to do while off work the next couple of weeks is to find quiet ways to bring even a little joy or relief into the lives of those I may or may not know or ever meet. So this morning I loaded up a bunch of things we had stored up to sell on Craigslist and dropped it all off to a lady who works in the food court in our building. I’m not sure if angels or true saints exist, but if they do, I’m sure she’s one of them. We’re talking about a person who prays for folks with needs to cross her path so she can find a way to help them.
Now, this wasn’t the first time we’ve shared of ourselves to provide for her ministry, but for some reason it felt sweeter today. It’s not about the content of the bags and boxes we filled, or the dollar amounts applied to each gift card we gave her, but the purpose that might be fulfilled (a hearty thanks to three long time co-workers for chipping in on very short notice to provide additional gifts). I’m so glad we were able to half fill the bed of a Silverado to bring a little hope to folks in need. Could it be the opportunity felt so meaningful today because it’s Christmas time? Could be because it’s actually what I need most in my life.
Cassettes
Dec 5, 2009 sojourn
Christmas means rearranging spaces in our house so we can setup the tree and decorations and make room for presents. Which in turn means having to make room for the ‘stuff’ that has to be cleared out so we actually have room for the aforementioned decorations and presents. Good thing is during this process we also get to throw out a lot of things we no longer use or need. You know, things like rabbit ear antennas, manuals for long-gone VCRs and today we cleared out a big drawer full of old video and cassette tapes obviously no longer in use and should be trashed.
So glad I looked through the bag BEFORE it went to the trash bin in the garage because I found a couple of cassettes I would have been WAY sad to lose. One tape took me back to a blustery winter day in Newport, RI, and a bunch of Navy musicians tracking a live demo of a few charts for a sax player/vocalist who was to audition for the Jazz Commodores in DC. The other, a spring jazz band concert on which I had the privilege of playing bass with the Edison Community (now State) College jazz ensemble backing Clark Terry.
What’s important to me is that I can now do more than just think back to these two distinct seasons in my life, instead I can hear what was happening and be very proud of what I was accomplishing. Not that the musicianship was necessarily anything to write home about (except for Clark’s and a couple of the outstanding Navy players I was holed up with at that time), but that I was venturing beyond my roots of rock and roll, funk and pop. Actually, the college gig was my last at school about three weeks before I actually joined the Navy.
Guess I should look at these two cassettes as early Christmas presents. They won’t go under the tree, but they are now in the cabinet with some of the other tapes from days gone by… hmm, maybe I should ask for one of the converter ‘thing-ies’ for Christmas so I can pop this stuff to CD/DVD. What do you think?
Milk & Honey
Nov 22, 2009 sojourn
A couple of nights ago I met friends and associates I used to work with at the firm that brought me to Charlotte in 1996… a wonderfully eclectic collection of folks that makes it a point to stay connected since the company basically crumbled after being sold in 1998. Could be the sense mission we had at this technology firm. Not that it was perfect, but there was something about it. We had our share of struggles and disappointments, yet always came together to strive for the next milestone, no matter how daunting or unachievable it seemed at the time.
I left our social hour pumped. I mean, it has been at least 2-3 years since I’ve attended one of these get-togethers, and some 30 people made the rush hour drive to hang out, have a beer and a few laughs, and reminisce. The next day, I thought often about some of the conversations I had and perspectives that came home with me. But the really cool thing about it all was that diving into these past relationships somehow freed me to realize I’m ready to test waters I’ve gazed at for a few weeks now.
I originally got into writing while part of the worship ministry at a church we used to attend. Since that change, we’ve attended another great church, but I never got back into music ministry. For some time now, I’ve struggled with a decision to that end and feel the time set sail on this venture has come.
Of course, there is a voice telling me, dude, you can’t do this, just keep doing what you’re doing. Don’t make waves, don’t venture out into the deep waters. Stay here, where things are safe and keep enjoying the life of “bread and wine”. But there’s a stirring that won’t go away. Bread and wine is good, but deep inside I believe there’s a promise of Milk & Honey that awaits. It’s going to take a lot of faith, and the whole venture may not even work out, or could lead me in a whole other direction. But if I don’t ever pull up anchor I’ll never know.
What I See
I get sermon snips everyday via email from one of my favorite pastors, Charles Stanley of First Baptist in Atlanta. This week’s messages included “The Power of Persistence”, “Perseverance”, “Time for Success” and “Using Time Well”. Wish I could say I consistently excel in all these areas, I don’t. But, I do aspire to the principals, and feel I made some really good strides this year.
Last night I cut my website over to a new version. It feels really good to have gone through this process. In the past I’ve done all this type of work myself, but this time around I engaged a friend and fellow writer/musician, John Cloer, who’s expanding his marketing horizons into web development. Thanks to John and his wife Cate (singer/songwriter), for encouraging me to get this done, and especially to John for his hard work and patience through the development process. This multi-talented duo has really blossomed this year and is quickly becoming a mainstay act in the Charlotte music scene.
Here come the holidays as I’m wrapping up my first studio effort, a four song EP, which has been a great learning experience. Though the songs will be done, I won’t have all the money to finish the project this year, but I’ll be getting pre-mastered mixes posted as soon as they are ready.
It’s also time to start mapping out 2010 and make some personal decisions that could significantly impact life as I (and my family) know it today. Most of all, I need take time to count up the blessings and look for ways to quietly give back to those who have needs. To observe life more intently and laugh a little more often, to be more resilient in situations that wear me down by sifting what really matters from the nonsense that’s so pervasive in our world today. It only takes a tiny crack for light to shine into darkness, and a heart of hope to see it.
Walk the Wire
Oct 24, 2009 faith, songwriting
Seems like forever since feeling as though I may be getting caught up on things. Though most likely a mere illusion, I woke today with that sense. I had to put some people and possibilities off to get to this point, and the only reason I’m home today is because I finally ran myself down to the point where I had to take the day off… I’m supposed to be in the studio working on finishing the EP. Not sure if I’m getting the flu or I’m just out of gas, either way, I knew I had to slow down and take a me-day.
Even though I’m “off”, I’ll likely spend some time today re-writing the potential last track for the EP titled “Walk the Wire” (at least that’s what it’s titled right now). I feel strongly about this title because it’s like I’m walking a wire with almost everything I’m doing these days. Plus, the background for my new website, which should be released in the next 2-3 weeks, has the image of wires across the top, and kinda sparked the idea to begin with.
Navigating the chaos and politics everyday at work is a high wire act, no net, no paramedic waiting below. Life at home with kids aged 9-21 is a delicate balancing act — being there for my wife and family when they need me, and staying out of the way when they don’t. Stoking the embers of creativity instead of caving in to curling up on the couch with a cup of tea or red wine is a frequent challenge I have to kick myself to do, but do I must. Carving out enough time for me to refuel by flesh, to nurture and motivate my spirit is at times an exercise in futility, exemplified by the brick wall I hit yesterday afternoon.
I argue with myself that other than the non-negotiable challenges of life, it’s my own being that puts me on that wire. Sure, I could let go of dreams most likely unattainable, or play the coward and walk away from responsibilities I’ll live with till I die… but, any way I slice it, if I don’t walk the wire, take the challenges and risks and get bloody along the way, what will I have to look back on in the end?
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