Runnin' From the Light

Have you ever had a time when you felt like a fraud? Are there times when you feel like you are just going through the motions, doing church things but without real feelings or meaning?
Usually when we are working hard to live out our faith we have no problem talking about it, but when we aren't it isn't easy to articulate what we believe. I know there are some who can preach one thing and live another, but sooner or later that will break down. For me it is much easier to articulate what I believe when I am actually practicing it. God has a way of reminding me to examine myself when I get "hot under the collar" about some injustice. I hear the question in my mind (not literally or vocally though)"and what about you?" I have to evaluate my life on the topic at hand and make sure I am being true to what I believe.

I had a time in college when a classmate asked me "and what do you believe?". He was Catholic and was curious about what I, a Baptist, believed. I don't remember exactly what topic or area we were discussing (there were a few of us) ...though I do know we were playing pool, not in a deep discussion. I was away from home for the first time, freshman in college, attending church but in reality just "going through the motions". I didn't feel like I was really living my faith - not that I was doing bad things ,just not in tune with God right then. I ended up saying "oh, I believe lots of things", and walking away. I knew anything I said would not feel honest and I was afraid of the discussion.
This is the subject of my song "Runnin' From the Light" (third song in the soundclick sidebar),...though the specific inspiration came from a relative who evidenced the same behaviour.
Please be sure that you are not just going through the motions. Know what you believe and live it. Life is much easier that way.:)

talents and skills

How do you view yourself and what you have to give? We tend to look at others and what they have accomplished and downgrade ourselves. It happens no matter what we have done or what others think of us, and it can prevent us from doing what we can because we think we have so little. But I am reminded of the parable of the talents. You can read about it in the gospels, so I won't repeat it here. It makes the point that we are all given different levels of ability but all expected to use them wisely. It doesn't matter what you have as long as you are faithful in using it for the best.
This is regardless of what others may think of what you have - this is the essence of the song "In Whatever You Do" on my soundclick link. It was written in response to a discussion with someone at church who didn't think they had much to give ,or what they had wasn't seen as important (a christian artist). I told them, just be faithful in what you can do, and God will bless it.

thanks

A quick post here, more later. I realized that I needed to give credit to a good friend for helping me on the songs I just posted. Greg Dimichel accompanied me on guitar for these three as we created the 3 song demo in the radio station in Phoenix where I was working at the time, years ago. I was very glad for his help on this - my guitar playing is still a work in progress and his is much better.
Thanks, Greg.

music

As I posted last time it is important to make time for what you love. One of the things I love, and haven't been making enough time for, is music. I love to sing, to play guitar and keyboard, and to write songs. It is an expression of my resonance - what I think in my head and feel in my heart coming out musically. When I was little I used to often annoy my sisters (all older) when I would awake early, happy, and vocal. I shared a room with one of them till I was 6, and they were not early birds (except one) , and they remember my early serenades to this very day :) Later I learned to play cello,flute,guitar, and piano, and sung/played in church and school band for several years.

After doing solos in church for a few years I started to write my own songs and perform them. The first time I met my wife I was performing one of my songs and accompanying myself on guitar for the first time at a singles retreat. I have continued to write over the years, but have not had as many opportunities to perform and so the music has languished.

It is time to make a change. Through the internet I have a way of "broadcasting" my songs and I am going to take the chance to do it here. I have 3 songs here on the sidebar, from my new Soundclick site . I will give you background on them in my posts.

The first one to come is "Expect the Unexpected"
Often times we anticipate things, with sometimes reward and sometimes disappointment. Then sometimes we dread bad things, and either are relieved or sad when it comes about. But I believe that God wants to surprise us with good things each day, and we often miss them because we are not looking for them. Instead of dreading or anticapating, try expecting something unexpected.

doing what you love

What do you love? What really turns you on or energizes you?
Some things we have to do, it's reality. And some things we do as a matter of habit, neither loving or hating them ,they just are a part of our everyday life. But then there are things that we really love and it makes a difference. Listen to someone talk about what they love and you can hear it in their voice and see it in their eyes.

I remember hearing Al Gore talk about the danger of global warming in his film "An Inconvenient Truth". Whether you agree with him or not there is no doubt in my mind about his commitment to it. You could hear it in his voice, see it in his mannerism. It was such a contrast to his presidential run. He is where he needs to be -doing what he loves.

For me I love to walk, love to garden , and love rain. Fortunately I live in the Pacific Northwest which is friendly to all three. I make time to walk - not just for exercise and mood enhancement (very true and valid)- but because I truly love to do it. I love growing things - especially when surprises happen - and I love rain, even a few times doing garden work out it in (I know, I'm strange, but that's okay:) )

So how about you? What do you love and are you making time for it? Even if it's only once in a while or for short bits, make sure that you spend some time doing things you really like. Even if no one else understands you need to do it for you. Life is too short to be always bogged down by the necessities. It should be lived. This I believe.

healing

Do you believe in healing?

No, not in the blind can see, deaf can hear,sick get well sense (though I do think that's still possible) Nor in the white coat with stethoscope or scalpel kind of healing. But the deeper emotional, mental, psychological and,yes, spiritual healing. The type that can be done by all of us if we just try to make each day a little better for those with whom we come in contact. We live in a world that is filled with broken hurting people and too often we end up just pointing fingers and finding someone to blame.

In politics we talk about issues like crime,homelessness, drug rehab, welfare, like they involve statistics only and not real people. We tend to think of "them", those who in our estimation have made "bad choices" and thus are consigned to forever suffer for them. We view ourselves as somehow above it all, and never consider that those people could or should ever be restored to normal society. We judge and yet forget that we are also prone to make "bad choices" - only ours don't end up in print or in court.

Reconciliation, restoration,rehabilitation, forgiveness, peace, healing.How much are they a part of your life? These words are core to Easter, yet sometimes far from those who celebrate it. The message of the cross reminds us that we are all in the same boat, in need of healing and forgiveness. At times like these we really do need to come together not divide.

And how can we do this, you may ask? Look for opportunities to make a difference in someone's life today. When you are with someone make sure your eyes are focused on them and your ears are tuned to what they are saying - and your heart as well , because often you need to get passed the words to the feelings that are being expressed. In short, treat them as you would want to be treated. And this includes those you are at odds with. It doesn't take a lot, just a willingness to act.

So I ask again, do you believe in healing?

Resonance

Why resonance? Basically resonance in physics is two bodies vibrating at the same frequency which can also cause another body to vibrate at the same frequency as well. To keep it simple think about humming. You think of a tune and hum it, your heart is reflected or resonating in your voice, even without words - which may or may not come later. If you remember it well enough and hum or sing well enough you may cause others to hum or sing along, even if they do not know the tune or words.

Your action in communication in this way is not a matter of direction -force - but of influence - showing outward authenticity of your inner feelings. You will have trouble humming a tune you do not like or sing words you do not agree with or like. Your inner self is your beliefs, your humming/singing is your actions. The more authenitic your singing the clearer the tune, the more people can sing along.

This is what this blog is about. hear the tune, sing the words, join the song