Music, My Life, And My Future. (part 1)
Well, it is truly a rarity for me to be blogging, it’s not really my “thing”. Yet, somehow, I find myself compelled to express a few things that have been going on in my life recently…so here I am! I must warn you, nothing I write will be eloquent, it may not even be grammatically correct, but it will at the bare minimum be honest.
As most of you (whoever that may be) know, I am an avid fan of music. Honestly, it’s difficult to explain just how much this expressive art form actually means to me. Music has a way of soothing the soul and refreshing one’s spirit…Ironically, while it is definitely the chief vessel God uses to bring me closer to Him, It can at times become an idol, separating me from the purpose driven life God has in store. Naturally, I want to develop and become the “best” at my craft but at times that drive to become a great individual performer leads me away from wanting to become a great follower of Christ. I am at a crucial stage in my life, in January I begin studying Jazz at Georgia State University. I am extremely excited, it really is a dream come true! My only hope is that, as I progress as a musician and eventually enter into the “cutthroat” environment that is the music industry, I remember my roots and who I am. I guess what I am saying is, I don’t want to be yet another church-grown musician who eventually goes on and leaves. Phil Laeger puts it best when he sings: “Don’t Want the Music Without You.” This is not to say that I will never play in non-Christian ensembles, but rather I refuse to enter a secular world and not shine a Light in to it. I want to become the best musician I can, that’s why I practice, but it means very little if I can’t surrender it all to God, for His purposes, for His glory. I am in no way perfect, my walk with God is a work in progress…but that’s the goal! “Take all my dreams and bend them to Your will.”
It is with this mindset that God has really been speaking to me in recent months. I can literally, at times, feel God (through the Holy Spirit) stirring within me! Once again, music has been a crucial part of it… and with that, I shall move on to the next part of this blog….
- I recently discovered that iTunes has been making “Celebrity Playlists.” Basically, each person (celebrity) compiles a playlist of some of their favorite songs and provides a brief explanation for each choice they make. This got me thinking (not that I’m a celebrity or anything), what songs would I choose to place on my personal playlist? So, in light of what’s been going on in my life recently, I shall make a playlist of some songs that have specifically spoken to me. I will also make another list of some of my all-time favorite songs (both religious and secular) for anyone who might be interested.
Sadly, I am exhausted…. so I will continue this blog in the next segment of “Music, My Life, and My Future.”
Stay tuned, thanks for reading
Chris H.
