WDL Demo Rss

Thoughts during Friday lunch when I should be at school

Music should never be an end. Music is a beautiful means to communicating one's thoughts/feelings/beliefs, connecting cultures, creating opportunities for community growth, proclaiming a message, asking questions, delving deeply into complex issues, and on and on. But when we--musicians or listeners-- make it an end, we are always disappointed. Fingers get blistered, voices get hoarse, backs get sore, symphonies and operas end--these are all things of which to be proud. They are marks of perseverance and hard work. Standing ovations and monetary donations are further marks of artistry and appreciation. These things feel really good to receive... but they end. Quickly. Not only do audiences leave, but postings about unlucky auditions or worse, diagnoses of chronic ailments that postpone or prevent music-making happen more often than we'd like. If I set my soul's worth on music-making, or even the metaphysical concept of music, I will be crushed. Every time.
Yesterday, a friend said, "You shouldn't be concerned about a relationship right now. You're here to study music and should give it your all. It deserves to be your number one priority." While I agree that I should not spend a good deal of time thinking about a romantic relationship (until the Lord wills/ anytime, God, is fine with me!), I fervently disagree that music "deserves" to be my number one priority. I hope that I never put it at the top of my list for time, energy, focus, and sacrifice. As a music student and one who feels a calling to pursue music professionally, I want to always keep practicing and performing in my top 5... but never top 3. May my relationship with God, relationships/service with/to people, and advancing the Kingdom of God always remain high above everything else.

Yet may we do all we do with excellence. Today, the announcer on WCSC 90.1 FM, the classical station in OKC, remarked, "Our great nation deserves great music." I fervently agree. God is so glorified when we make music and immediately give Him the praise He deserves for creating and embodying it. I am reminding myself of these truths by:
Listen to Handel's Messiah on NPR

Pray for me as a approach the less-than-a-month countdown to my senior voice recital. It's hard to keep things in perspective when you're spending several hours a day practicing for the benefit of making oneself perform awesomely for almost an hour in front of friends, professors, and family. Eeeeeeek.