Viva La Vida

VColdplay’s Viva La Vida speak of positional changes. “I used to… Now…”

Twice I have been so deeply entrenched in positions I feared they defined me. When God called me out of Bible Study Fellowship after 17 years, did I grieve the loss of the time demanding spiritual position? I never missed it even once.

When I knew beyond doubt it was time to say good-bye to my career in 2010 after 34+ years, did I fear grief? No. Though my service was twice as long, I had no qualms about making a clean break as I had successfully “let go” before.

Position doesn’t define us. Friends, can you embrace my new adventures with me?

The Unclouded Day

The Southern gospel hymn, The Unclouded Day, has been picked up by folks ranging from gospel greats like the Gaithers to Willie Nelson to Don Henley to Iris Dement. Yes, life holds dark days. Even the Bible warns we can expect trouble in this life (John 16:33).

UI boarded a plane in January 2011 to fly to Los Angeles for an intensive improv class. In Dallas, the weather was so precipitous and cold, deicers had to cover every inch of the plane before takeoff. Once above the clouds, though, the sun was shining strong as the clearest day.

Are storms swirling about you? Look above the clouds and to the day when there will be no more death, sorrow, crying, or pain.

The Times They Are a-Changin’

TBob Dylan’s The Times They Are a-Changin’ held appeal to the masses and launched the poet to stardom. With it’s hand on the pulse of the nation with in the words of Digital Mediaiststripped of most specificity,” Times stands today among the greatest songs of all time.

“Everybody has a story too tell.” Storydame wants to be that voice in the vast sea of life experience that cries out in support of the true life story of everyman – the ordinary, typical, average person.

Do you have to be a celebrity to have a story worth telling? No! Are our experiences so vastly different? No, find your common theme and your story will, like Dylan’s song, resonate through universality.

What is the universal theme of your story?

Stairway to Heaven

SA Facebook friend shared Heart’s tribute to Led Zeppelin from the 2012 Kennedy Center honors recently. As I watched Nancy Wilson play the folk-ish intro to Stairway to Heaven on acoustic guitar, I thought, “I could play that!”

I jumped on my iPhone, clicked on the song, and opened my Ultimate Guitar app. It identified the song playing and I opened a version. It looked doable. Next guitar lesson I announce to my teacher, “I wanna learn Stairway to Heaven.”

When I started guitar lessons, I hoped I’d eventually be able to strum a few chords. I never anticipated I’d be playing Led Zeppelin. It’s like my take on heaven; I think heaven will far exceed all expectations.