'Stress'

I've had the funniest day!! we had our weekly live performance class and this week we were doing 'Money' by Pink Floyd. For any of you musically minded folk, its in 7/4 time!! Really hard, plus the lyrics are a knightmare! It was funny today because everyone mucked up, including my friend Sarah who lost hope completely(the trick is to carry on and pretend it didn't happen) and during the long guitar solo, she just stood on stage, hand on hip, looking really pissed off! Hilarious! Plus Florence, for whom English isn't her first language, got the lyrics pretty much spot on!! She definately did the best job today and totally put the rest of us to shame! In general we all had such a laugh at each other and ourselves which was a nice change and reminded me not to take myself so seriously! Its so important not to compare ourselves to each other because we're all on our own separate learning curve! So, it was a good afternoon.

It only got better when in our sight singing class we were sightreading radion jingles! Hilarious! Real cheesy ones from the 80's! Believe it or not, as a session singer, radio jingles can be rather profitable!

So ok, it was a good day but I've just finished a rehearsal with my friend and at one point I just flopped over the keyboard out of sheer exhaustion! Don't worry...I'm fine but the days really catch up on you unexpectedly in this place! I came in for 10am, had advanced techniques, advanced concepts, live performance workshop and then sight-singing so the next time I look at my watch its 6pm!! After two hours practice my friend sat me down and attempted to give me a back massage (she's REALLY good) and there is so much tension in my back! I've had this problem for a few years...I just can't relax! not good, especially for singing posture! Why am I telling you this? Well, I guess I just realised how much of the stress I carry, I internalise. I mean, its usually when we say we aren't stressed that we generally are! I need to figure out how to really take time out. I'm still settling in here; its still new and strange and I've heard the same guitar riff from the room nextdoor for about 30 mins now!!! (that didn't really fit in with that sentence but its annoying me so I had to vent!lol

I'm rambling now...so tired but I have a band rehearsal at 10pm! Better go and learn another song!

If anyone has any ideas to help my tension problem...two weeks in the sun, complete isolation?...let me know!

Voytec

Yesterday was a really good day...I'm starting to really enjoy Fridays because I have an hour with my band and a musical director which is always good; we always end up tighter as a unit and plus its always great playing with other musicians! After that I have the day free so I usually go get a coffee (always important) and sit using someone's wireless (thanks whoever you are!). After that I would get a practice room and well...practice.

My friend Sarah came in later and we had a jam on the piano because we're hoping to try a few open mic nights soon. We're so similar, we even have the same naf backing tracks on our i pods such as...well I can't say because we all need our guilty musical pleasures! So it was a good productive day and then I started to make my way up the high street towards home.

A man passed me and he said something to me so I rather reluctantly I have to say, took out my earphones and asked him to repeat himself...his name was Voytec and he was Polish and he simply wanted £1 for some food. Now, we hear this type of question everyday, well most city goers do and I wonder how many times we walk straight past? I know I do and I'm ashamed of this fact because as someone who has been involved with 'Christian outreach', I know very well what some of these people face and go through. I asked myself, how many times am I happy to help a homeless person when I'm with a group of Christians yet I am fully equipped (with the Holy Spirit) to help when its just me! 

He had no home and had been getting abuse from some people in the community. He carried a plastic bag that contained his life basically. I mean, how can I possibly comprehend that sort of existence?? I don't want to get all 'deep' but I have SOOOO much! Anyway so I chatted with him a bit and actually gave him £10 and he actually tried to give it back!!! He said it was too much! We said our goodbyes and the i pod (that I just HAD to have) felt so heavy in my hand as I walked toward my flat. 

So why am I telling you this...I can assure you that it is not to astound you with my compassion but to remind myself that I don't have nearly as much as I should!! I mean, this is what I'm trying to get my head around...I'm in London, in search of a career and will most certainly see many more people like Voytec. Bottom line...people need God and no matter where we are placed, we need to show people God! I think last night reminded me that there is a bigger picture beyond even our calling and I've been so focused on being a part of this music industry that I had forgotten that there's a reason I'm here that is so much more than getting to make music! I don't ever want to put my passion ahead of God's passion, which is simply...people. Of course I want to follow God and it is for His glory ultimately but I guess I just need reminded every so often.

I'm glad I met Voytec and I'm glad that in some small way, I was able to offer him a bit of hope and to him it was probably the fact that he would have food for the next few days! If you read this, please pray for him and maybe the next person who stops you on the street, with a different accent might experience a bit of hope and compassion.