Going on 11 months in Tennessee! Woohoo!
A good friend said, "Plan to give it a year." Up until a few weeks ago, it has been a season of networking>working, which I was prepared for. I have had a few opportunities along the way such as weddings, lessons, church services, and symphony gigs.
And then I prayed (and asked my family to pray too), after a long stretch of having nothing to play for, that I would be given something. Just one small thing to keep me going. One opportunity to play & use my gifts.
It's funny. When you pray- God has way of answering.
(Except... God is bigger than you, and so are His plans.)
I was asked by a girl I had met a few weeks prior to add strings to her song for a music video. Perfect! I prepared well, dressed the part and went to the address she gave me. When I walked in the door of the house and noticed more than a few prestigious awards displayed in the living room, I realized this might end up being more significant than a simple video post on YouTube.
And then, I recognized nearly everyone there. These were people from church and some I had met the night before at a small Franklin venue. Huh. Now I was working with them. On a music video, of all things. Playing viola. Jamming with a few guys while the artist was having her makeup done.
All went smoothly, and it led to a few more opportunities to play at house shows the next week. In a very short period of time, I had acquired new friends and several opportunities to play. So much so after a period of waiting that it became the best kind of overwhelming!
Now, I am looking ahead to a possible recording endeavor that I have hoped for, I have prayed for, and is along the lines of what I have felt called to do (specifically). The kind of thing that sounds crazy when you leave house, hometown, family, and a stable career- as a violinist.
Granted, this is Nashville, and things never happen at a "normal" rate of speed. It seems one is either in a perpetual state of waiting or living life in full sprint (and back again). At the moment, I am ready to jump again into something likely to be uncomfortable, challenging, and uncommon. I am ready to receive harsh criticism, yet confidently pursue my calling and dream. My hands are open. I am willing. Now to prepare to give my utmost as a musician and servant of Christ!
Hebrews 11:1- Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.
Amen.
Thursday, August 23, 2012
Tuesday, July 24, 2012
Freedom!
So, lots of funny things have happened recently. Let's begin, shall we?
We left off with my move. I struggled at first and stepped forward in blind obedience with a protesting heart. Now, I stand more blessed than I could imagine and on firmer spiritual ground.
Funny how obedience and faith work together like that. Oh, I am thankful!
Here's how it went down: I sent the message on a Thursday saying my other plans weren't going to work and I still needed a place to live. I moved in that Monday, with the help of friends. Tues.-Thurs. I dog-sat at a friend's house, and Friday I began the long drive to Fargo, ND, stopping in Bellevue, NE to stay the night. I was still feeling uneasy and had not even unpacked in my new abode.
Staying with my friends in NE was the best thing that could have happened. You see, I was met face-to-face with people who know and have known me for many years. We love each other like family and rejoice in each other's presence and quirks. There is no pretense. There is only respect, truth and the joy of freedom in fellowship. Oh, how I needed to be reminded of this.
Upon reaching Fargo, more of the same.
Then, I had lunch with my very dear friend Melinda. Over our 8 years of knowing one another, there have only been a couple of instances where we have felt the Holy Spirit move to tell the other something specific. That day, we both heard something. I can't speak for Mel, but what she told me helped to change my heart about something huge- within hours. By the time I went to bed that night, I was free of this big thing that I had held on to for far too long and had been weighing me down in an even bigger way.
Free!
And ready to hear from God about something new.
And I did! What happened over the rest of my vacation was awesome. Even an injured ankle was turned into a blessing. My brother and I shared some great experiences. Now he has gone back home, and I am beginning new routines in my new house in Nashville.
God is so good :)
We left off with my move. I struggled at first and stepped forward in blind obedience with a protesting heart. Now, I stand more blessed than I could imagine and on firmer spiritual ground.
Funny how obedience and faith work together like that. Oh, I am thankful!
Here's how it went down: I sent the message on a Thursday saying my other plans weren't going to work and I still needed a place to live. I moved in that Monday, with the help of friends. Tues.-Thurs. I dog-sat at a friend's house, and Friday I began the long drive to Fargo, ND, stopping in Bellevue, NE to stay the night. I was still feeling uneasy and had not even unpacked in my new abode.
Staying with my friends in NE was the best thing that could have happened. You see, I was met face-to-face with people who know and have known me for many years. We love each other like family and rejoice in each other's presence and quirks. There is no pretense. There is only respect, truth and the joy of freedom in fellowship. Oh, how I needed to be reminded of this.
Upon reaching Fargo, more of the same.
Then, I had lunch with my very dear friend Melinda. Over our 8 years of knowing one another, there have only been a couple of instances where we have felt the Holy Spirit move to tell the other something specific. That day, we both heard something. I can't speak for Mel, but what she told me helped to change my heart about something huge- within hours. By the time I went to bed that night, I was free of this big thing that I had held on to for far too long and had been weighing me down in an even bigger way.
Free!
And ready to hear from God about something new.
And I did! What happened over the rest of my vacation was awesome. Even an injured ankle was turned into a blessing. My brother and I shared some great experiences. Now he has gone back home, and I am beginning new routines in my new house in Nashville.
God is so good :)
Thursday, July 5, 2012
Renaissance
I moved. Not from Nashville. In fact, I moved TO Nashville. Allow me to explain:
Since I moved from Fargo, ND, I have resided in a small town south of Nashville, enjoying a rather scenic commute to and from the big city. Just over two weeks ago, my roommate/landlord told me of plans for family needing to move in, thus leaving me with a choice: To find a new place before they come and settle in or to stay and endure the many changes.
At first, I did not want to leave. With so much in other areas of my life being up in the air or falling apart in various ways, I considered the house a blessing of peace and familiarity in the midst of chaos. A safe haven. My home.
So, I prayed. Hard. And God changed my heart. No, I did not want to leave, but I understood it was best if I left and allowed the family dynamics to play out as they need to without me. I saw the potential for being more of a hindrance than a helper.
God also provided me a place to live, quite miraculously, with friends in Nashville (Antioch, actually, but basically Nashville). It is an awesome place in a great location and even has a touch of the country feel, at least on the drive there. My roommates/landlords are friends I met through church and some of the most fun, friendly, genuine people you will ever meet! There is no doubt of God's hand and blessing.
My struggle, however, is how much I miss "home." That house in the country with wild blackberries, fields and hills, horses and cows, fireflies and stars, neighbors you can rely on, and a roommate who enjoys putting on a good party as much as I do.
I want to go back.
But I can't. Not at this point.
I'm floating with nothing to grab hold of but God. But maybe that is how it is supposed to be. Something to grow me into who I was designed to be so I can serve the purpose I was made for. Once again, my mom had a few profound words of wisdom... She said,"You've been in that place for nine months. Birth happens after nine months. Perhaps you are being reborn into something new or a new stage of life." A Renaissance, of sorts. I always did like that era...
Since I moved from Fargo, ND, I have resided in a small town south of Nashville, enjoying a rather scenic commute to and from the big city. Just over two weeks ago, my roommate/landlord told me of plans for family needing to move in, thus leaving me with a choice: To find a new place before they come and settle in or to stay and endure the many changes.
At first, I did not want to leave. With so much in other areas of my life being up in the air or falling apart in various ways, I considered the house a blessing of peace and familiarity in the midst of chaos. A safe haven. My home.
So, I prayed. Hard. And God changed my heart. No, I did not want to leave, but I understood it was best if I left and allowed the family dynamics to play out as they need to without me. I saw the potential for being more of a hindrance than a helper.
God also provided me a place to live, quite miraculously, with friends in Nashville (Antioch, actually, but basically Nashville). It is an awesome place in a great location and even has a touch of the country feel, at least on the drive there. My roommates/landlords are friends I met through church and some of the most fun, friendly, genuine people you will ever meet! There is no doubt of God's hand and blessing.
My struggle, however, is how much I miss "home." That house in the country with wild blackberries, fields and hills, horses and cows, fireflies and stars, neighbors you can rely on, and a roommate who enjoys putting on a good party as much as I do.
I want to go back.
But I can't. Not at this point.
I'm floating with nothing to grab hold of but God. But maybe that is how it is supposed to be. Something to grow me into who I was designed to be so I can serve the purpose I was made for. Once again, my mom had a few profound words of wisdom... She said,"You've been in that place for nine months. Birth happens after nine months. Perhaps you are being reborn into something new or a new stage of life." A Renaissance, of sorts. I always did like that era...
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