Music Weaves Throughout My Life

I've been thinking alot about music lately. It's amazing how much music is woven throughout the tapestry of my life, even if it's just in the background. I listen to music, compose it, practice it, teach it, basically live it. Just about the only time music isn't playing in my life is when I'm asleep - but even then I usually wake up with a song stuck in my head!

A huge way music is in my life is through my piano playing. I've been playing piano for about twelve years now, and I'm currently preparing three piano pieces for my audition at Cedarville. (Which is coming up in February!) These pieces have been in my life for quite some time now - the "oldest" one I started playing two or three years ago. They really are so much a part of me that I can play them with my eyes closed! I'm sure my family is getting sick of them by now, but I think they've become a part of their lives as well. I often catch my brothers humming my songs after I'm done practicing.

Music also takes a big role in my writing. Often, the lyrics of songs will inspire me for a poem, or even a whole story. I also usually find one or two (or a whole playlist) of songs that just fit perfectly with the story I'm writing. With my last NaNoWriMo novel, "Rescue My Heart", it was Love Story meets Viva la Vida by Jon Schmidt, More Than It Seems by Kutless, and The Offering by Michael W Smith. (Click on the links to listen to the songs on Grooveshark.) Those songs just really seemed to fit with the story at different parts, and sometimes I drew inspiration for the next scene from them!

At the end of one of my poems (I won't share the whole thing because I wrote it three years ago and it's not very good), I wrote these words: "Music is a part of me. Without it, I would cease to be." Though that is, perhaps, slightly exaggerated, the words are true. Music is the ink for my pen, the haven for my sorrows, the backing to my tapestry. And the best music, I've found, is the music that reminds me of the One who made my tapestry. He's skilfully weaving even as I write - and I'm so glad He uses music as the base for my life.

~Melody

"Does God have a Bible?"

Well, I have to apologize for waiting almost two weeks before my next post. I have a clep test coming up (it's actually tomorrow), and that has been taking up almost all of my time. (Just for your information, I do not recommend cramming everything you need to know about Western Civilization into your head over a period of about two weeks. It can be detrimental to the rest of your brain...lol ^.^)

However, I did want to share with you something pretty funny. You're probably wondering what on earth my title is about. Well, this December, when our church had its Christmas program, my brother was the one taking care of the "sheep" (who were all the little kids of the church - thankfully there were only two or three of them!). One little boy started getting antsy, and began firing off random questions at my brother Tim (who was actually trying to study for a test). Here is how Tim related the incident to me:

Markie (the little boy): How big is a 'potomus?
Tim: Very big.
Markie: Is it as big as this? -spreads arms wide-
Tim: Alot bigger.
Markie: How big?
Tim: Bigger than you.

Markie: How big is your eye?
Tim: Well you can see it.
Markie: Is it this big? -measures with finger- Is it this big? -spreads arms out.
Tim: My eye is right here, see?
Markie: Yes, but how big is it?

Markie: Does God have a Bible?
Tim: Um, no, he wrote the Bible.
Markie: But does he have a Bible?
Tim: Uh... I guess so.
Markie: Does God have a Bible?
Tim: (getting exasperated) Yeah, sure. He does.
Markie: Is God this big? (stretches his arms out as wide as he can).
Tim: -pretends not to hear-
Markie: Is he as big as a church? Is he as big as a... CAR?
Tim: No, he's much bigger. He's bigger than you can imagine.
Markie: Is He bigger than a tornado? Would a tornado suck up my brother?
Tim: -laughing- What?


As you can see, it was pretty hilarious and random. I hope that gave you a smile and a chuckle or two!

~Melody

Unreachable

Here is another poem. This one I wrote in December, so it isn't as recent, but I really have been struck by the ideas in this recently. So many people I know (including & especially myself), have trouble with being real. Being willing to let people see beyond the surface smiles, the "I-have-it-all-together" looks. How can we let others see past the iced-over surface? Read on and you shall see the conclusion I came to.

Unreachable

I am a pond.

Unmoving - unmovable.

Nothing ruffles my glassy surface.

No one can pierce through the image I portray,

And see the depth

Of my pain.

I am indecipherable.

I feel a sensation of cold,

A snowflake prickles my skin

As it settles down on my surface.

Frantically, I try to stop it from sinking in.

Building up an icy wall,

Until I am once more,

Impenetrable.

Yet this sheet of ice begins to weigh upon me

Freezing my mind and emotions

I begin to really feel

Just how absent are my feelings.

What am I?

I am lifeless and cold

Unlovable.

The winter drags on

Your gentle snow piles on top of my self-made burden,

Weighing me down even more.

I almost wish it could break through

Just so I wouldn't feel so cold and empty.

But the wall just keeps building up, thicker and thicker.

I am unthawable.

As winter comes to a close,

I feel a warmth seep through my shell.

Slowly, oh so slowly,

The ice begins to get thinner and thinner

Until I can see Your sun once more

Shining dimly through the still-opaque glass.

I am yearning for something more.

I am so ready for this moment

When I shall finally be free.

Yet I dread it too,

For at least safety came with this captivity.

But cold winds come, like death,

And bind me in my cage of ice.

Unreachable once more.

I cry out in my anguish

Hoping that You will help me.

But the answer I recieve seems harsh,

Piercing drops of rain that pelt me on all sides.

I begin to feel my shell melt once more,

But oh, what a painful way this is!

In each raindrop that melts down to my very soul,

I hear Your voice, calling and convicting me.

And I know I can't hide under the surface any longer.

I must let Your words

Expose the depth of my heart.

I must become

Reachable.

(copyright Melody 2009)

~Melody

First Poem of the Year - Creativity

Last night I was inspired to write a poem on creativity. It's kinda funny that with all the poems I've written, I've never written one on that topic. I've written alot about writing, and many other things, but never about creativity. It was a really fun poem to write, because I tried to think of new ways to say what I wanted to say (which is my favorite form of creativity).
 This poem is an acrostic, which means a word is spelled out by the first letter of each line. In each line I show some way that creativity influences my life.

Creativity

Coiling itself around my mind,

Reaching through the words to grasp at my heart,

Eating away at my self-pity,

Always compelling me to do more,

Teaching me to think outside of the box,

Inspiring me wherever I go,

Veering my feet off the beaten path,

Illustrating the book of my life in vivid color,

Translating the words I write into feelings you can see -- 

Yeilding to its subtle commands is what makes my life unique.
(copyright Melody 2010)

Would you agree? Does creativity do that for you - or does it take more of a back seat in your life? Even if you don't use it at all, creativity is still a part of you. It's a part of all of us; the part that reflects the most glorious work of our Savior.

 I use my creativity in just about everything I do, especially in my writing and music. I always have to remind myself, though, if I don't keep my eyes on my Creator, I will never be able to reach my full creative potential. I often need to refocus my creativity on the One who created the desire for it in my heart. What about you?

-Melody

New Year's "Blog-olutions"

I know most of you are probably curious as to what my "surprise" is for the new year. I've come up with three "Blog-olutions" (in the tradition of New Year's Resolutions) which I will implement in my blog this year. Here they are:

• I shall share with you one of my poems or songs that I have written each week. I will try to make it one that I actually wrote that week, but some weeks I may go back and pick an older one. (Please remember that these are copyrighted pieces of work, so don't use them unless you ask me for permission.) :)
  

• I also plan on writing more about my musical journey - how I am progressing as a performer/accompanyist, composer, and teacher. I might even upload some audio files of the music I'm working on... so stay tuned!
  

 

• And also, of course, I will blog about anything that is creative or unique or that God has laid upon my heart that day.
  

If you're new to my blog, or just a casual reader, I hope that you will come along for the ride in the year 2010. Please follow me, or subscribe to my feed. And if you're already a follower of my blog, I would love for you to comment - even if it's just to say hi and tell me you liked what I posted. :)

As I think about this new year, my prayer for each one of you (and myself as well) is that you may grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory and praise forever!

~Melody