Every song has a story...

...And my first song, Hear My Call, has 2. I was thinkng about this post and what I wanted to share and how I wanted to do it. Being the person that often struggles with indecision and commitment, I figured..."why not just say all that I want to say?" And so I shall. lol

Story 1 - Behind the Song

I've been working on this song in some way for a few years. But it wasn't until recently that I realized I was really just carrying it around like a seed in my pocket when it needed to be in fertile ground. But I'll come back to that. The seed of the song was created years ago when I was struggling through a really dark period in my life. My heart was awash in pain and heartache, and there was no peace to be found. What really created the essence of the song though, was that I felt really isolated and alone. I had friends and family around but I still felt cut off...and most importantly, I felt cut off from God. I prayed because that's what "good Christians" are supposed to do, but I didn't think that my prayers were being heard. It's like I was calling out to God, crying out for Him, but not getting an answer. So, when I picked up my guitar to try to pick out a few notes, they formed a basic bass line, then a few chords, and finally, the melody came to mind. But beyond playing those few notes in the comfort of my home, there was nothing else there. I wasn't ready to share my struggles with anyone...and so, the seed went into my pocket. Until now...

Story 2 - The seed finds a green thumb

For the better part of the last year, I've had the opportunity to play with the praise team at RPC...or more accurately as one of the musicians for the praise team, under the direction and leadership of Reggie Reid. I have to keep lifting his name up because I can't thank him enough for creating space for me to get my chops back and grow as a musician. He pushed me and challenged me and, when the time was right, he took the seed of my song and nurtured it into a full-blown musical tree. And for all of those things, I have to give him his props, even as I give glory to God...recognizing that there must have been a plan for things long before I could even conceive of them.

Now...I'm left with one short-term goal as I prepare to unveil the song tomorrow night: Don't mess it up. LOL! Tomorrow night, at Ellington's at CPC (www.cpcsda.org), the song will be played and the story will be told again. Maybe not with words, but with melodies and harmonies and rhythms intertwined. And so...until that time...peace be the journey...