WHAT DID YOU GIVE UP FOR LENT?

Guess what I gave up for Lent? My Dell notebook. I have moved out of the darkness and into the white side of things with my new Mac Book. Very cool.

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THE GIFT OF MUSIC

Yesterday I experienced the gift of music in a variety of ways. It was an especially fitting day for me as February 11 is the day the Church remembers Caedmon, a member of the great cloud of witnesses that cheers us on. Tradition tells us that Caedmon (d680) loved to listen to music; it thrilled him and other’s people’s stories and songs brought him great joy! However, Caedmon could not play a single note on an instrument, nor could he sing on pitch. As a child his singing was so bad that when he tried to join in a song, everyone else was unable to keep singing.

One night, when Caedmon had left a great feast and had taken refuge in the stable, he had a dream and in it heard a voice saying: 'Sing, Caedmon. Sing some song to Me.' Caedmon stammered in reply: 'I cannot sing.' 'But you shall sing,' replied the voice. 'What shall I sing?' Caedmon asked in wonder. The voice answered: 'Sing the beginning of created things.' And Caedmon, in that moment, attempting to sing, found his stammering tongue had been loosened. He sang a song of praise to the Guardian of Heaven, the Father of glory. And in his dream he was able to sing a song so beautiful that it would make you cry!

When he awoke, the song was still with him. He sang it for God and for himself. He sang it for the stewards. And he sang it for the Abbess Hild, to whom he related his strange story. He sang to her the song he had sung in the night, and she and all who heard were amazed, and agreed 'that heavenly grace had been conferred upon him by the Lord.'

This was the original Caedmon’s Call.

Yesterday morning I received the gift of music as our worship team had opportunity to raise song of praise and love to our great God. It is a true joy making music with our team and it delights my soul.

Last night I watched the 49th Grammy’s with my son Sam (a gifted musician in his own right). We had fun together not only watching the performances but providing our own critical commentary along the way. Some of my highlights:

The Police’s version of their classic “Roxanne”
Christina Aguilera nailing James Brown’s “It’s a Man’s World”
Emily Robinson of the Dixie Chick’s doing a great impression of the girls from the Robert Palmer video
Smokey Robinson doing “Tracks of My Tears” and Lionel Richie singing “Hello”
Gnarls Barkley’s haunting version of “Crazy”
Corinne Bailey Rae, John Legend and John Mayer performing together (especially Mayer’s ripping guitar solo at the end of “Gravity”)

Let me close with the words of Bono:

“Music is worship; whether it’s worship of women or their designer, the world or its destroyer, whether it comes from the ancient place we call soul or simply the spinal cortex, whether the prayers are on fire with a dumb rage or dove-like desire, the smoke goes upwards to God or something you replace with God. Usually yourself.”

Think about it! Thanks be to God for the gift of music!

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OPPORTUNITY BASED EMOTIONS

One of my developmental goals this year is to grow in my emotional engagement. The other day I received a short but powerful email from The Human Performance Institute:

"Being fully engaged requires that you are emotionally connected, mentally focused, physically energized, and spiritually aligned in what really matters. The emotional dimension consists of two types of emotions: survival-based and opportunity-based emotions.

Survival-based emotions involve feelings of anger, fear, revenge, anxiety or insecurity. These negative emotions provide a very low quality of energy.

Opportunity-based emotions involve feelings of adventure, challenge, confidence, enjoyment and gratitude. These positive emotions provide the highest quality of energy, making it possible to fully ignite your talent & skills in what matters most to you.

Tip: When engaging in something or with someone that is very important to you, do whatever it takes to bring opportunity-based (positive) emotions to the moment. For example, think about the positive outcome that you would like to see happen. Generating positive energy ensures that you can be fully engaged in that situation or with that individual."

Today I had the opportunity to put this advice into action. I have a regular weekly meeting with a group that up to this point has been draining me. The last couple of weeks I have walked into this meeting with a variety oif survival-based emotions. This afternoon I worked hard to enter into the experience with a sense of challenege and adventure and it made all the difference for me (and I hope for the others involved).

Does any of this resonate with you? How do you stay engaged emotionally in demanding situation and contexts?

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TURNING ON THE LIGHTS

Have you ever felt you were stumbling around in the dark? Or maybe wishing you could get your life going in a different and healthier direction? I sure have.

This morning these words from Isaiah 58 grabbed my attention:

“Do this and the lights will turn on and your lives will turn around at once. (Isaiah 58:8, The Message).

Wow – do this and the lights will turn on. What must I do?

The word of the Lord:

“Break the chains of injustice, get rid of exploitation in the workplace, free the oppressed, cancel debts. What I’m interested in seeing you do is: sharing your food with the hungry, inviting the homeless poor into your homes, putting clothes on the shivering ill-clad, being available to your own families.” (Isaiah 58:6-7)

Let’s go turn some lights on!

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