Wednesday, March 16, 2011

our gifts to share

I saw a post today of a fellow musician who was complaining about his lack of success - no money, no gigs, no appreciation for his art, etc. The same things I've complained about a million times. But today I felt differently about it - maybe it was because I saw the truth in this person. It's always easier to see things in someone else's soul rather than in our own.
But I've learned a few things recently and wanted to share them, maybe they will help someone out there. And it's this: I feel that we've already "received" the gift. My friend I mentioned above was stating that he was upset, based on the feeling that he had not received the things he believes will make him happy: success, recognition, money, etc. He is essentially pounding his fists on the ground like a little child and saying "I want that" when what he has is "this". I've also heard people saying that they could do more, give more, once they receive this thing that they want.
But my idea is that you've already received it, so share it! If you are a musician, then you've already received this very precious gift, something that is uniquely yours. God created you and gave you this special talent - now it is your time to share it with the world. Quit making excuses and blaming the world or God or whatever for what you DON'T have - you've already got it! There is a concept which states if you are needy or desperate for something, your need will keep it from you. You have to practice "Non-attachment" in order to receive it - basically, you can't want it SO much. Life needs to be balanced and fulfilled with many things, not just one specific thing. It's called Letting Go and Letting God. If I am desperate for a particular outcome, I'm letting my own ego get in the way. There could be a million wonderful things waiting for me, but I'm so dead-set on it looking a particular way that I often miss out on these things. I try to have a well-rounded life, with many different avenues for joy, so that I am not attached to any particular one.
I've also seen many of my over-40 female friends, who are desperate for a relationship, crying that they never receive what they want, i.e. a man to share love with. But they already have the love in their hearts. They really just want the outlet in which to share it. We all want our gifts, which are all based in love, to be shared and make a difference in the world. If you have the desire to be loved, then you have the capability to love. So go out and love the world. There is no way you can tell me that there is not someone who could use a little love today. And giving fills up our hearts and makes us less desperate to receive that thing we "must have".

Tuesday, March 8, 2011

Life is a River

They say Life is like a river - maybe God is like a river too. I think music and songwriting are like a river - they flow easily and much good comes from them both. I think we can identify with the "river" analogy because it's been used so many times before. It's easy to think of the river as the source of all being - to get a cool drink of water, to swim and become clean, to float along, to jump in and have fun. And rivers supply water for villages and cities to survive, and for crops too. So they are the source of Life, literally. And as long as I keep the river flowing, all is well. But that's easier said than done. If God is the source of all life and accessible at all times, then why does it seem so difficult to manifest the things in my life that I want, to easily access that divine flow? Because the river gets blocked with old thoughts and behaviors. And it's my job to dredge those things up from the bottom and work through them. Maybe I don't even know they're there - but if I keep focusing on what I want, little by little, and letting go and letting God work them into my life - the obstacles will appear. They will float to the surface. Sometimes I wonder: why is it that I was focusing on a great music career, doing my work, visualizing, meditating, and then my house gets flooded? Because that is God saying "OK, you want a fabulous career, you've got to work on all that old stuff that's blocking the way". It may not seem that way at first, but in time, and with enough work and true desire to be receptive to seeing the "gift" in everything - it can all be worked through. So it is ALL God's work, even the stuff that appears to be "bad" are opportunities to work through them, to remove that log that has prevented the river to flow as it should.