Comments for Finding Your Song

Comment on attention by Randi Perez Helm

Randi Perez Helm — Sun, 28 Dec 2008 23:09:01 +0000

Hey Randy, thanks for your insight. You are right people come into a “worship setting” with a completely different agenda than a concert and yes we do not ever know who or where “audience” is. You got to the heart of what I meant about being “real” in our art! That is what I long to see flourish in the vocal arts being used in everyday ministry here in my town. It takes vulnerability and honesty to be an honest vocalist. I think that is what compels me about “superstars!” Hope you are well!!! Peace

Comment on attention by Randi Perez Helm

Randi Perez Helm — Sun, 28 Dec 2008 23:03:01 +0000

I think I like his stories because I’m intrigued that it captivates my husband so. I’m more curious as to how he draws people in.

Comment on attention by Ed Schief

Ed Schief — Sat, 13 Dec 2008 00:47:22 +0000

I never liked Sting, but I know what you’re saying. Why do you like his stories so much? Why are you drawn to them?

Comment on Struggling to write by Randi Perez Helm

Randi Perez Helm — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 22:12:13 +0000

yes
i agree
it means dealing with my lazy and undisciplined body, mind and spirit….yuck

Comment on Basically….. by Randi Perez Helm

Randi Perez Helm — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 22:09:12 +0000

Actually Ed,
I don’t sing in corporate settings…or at least not very often. I feel guilty when I’m at church like the worship police are judging me. I just like to take it all in. I have a hard time singing in community when I’m not leading. That is my hinderance that I have to struggle with. My connection with God is so much more intimate when I’m alone but I don’t want to miss out on what happens in community. Some people really worship and connect with God in a corporate setting…far more than when alone. I guess that is why I keep leading….well one of the reasons anyway.]

I’ll have to go read your worship-ometer post…I don’t think I read that one!

I’m sure we have a lot to keep talking about.

Comment on Basically….. by Ed Schief

Ed Schief — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 01:31:57 +0000

I’ve been struggling lately with just wanting to skip worship time. Well, with wanting to participate. I just want to sit there. I like the feeling of being drawn into the music, I like thinking and feeling about God, but…I don’t want to sing. I’d be a bad person for you to lead! You’d have no idea whether or not you were being effective. Well, unless you actually were able to monitor my spiritual life, and then you could judge by the improvement. Hey – did you read my ‘worship-ometer post’? I sort of spilled my thoughts there too.

I think we have the makings of a long discussion here!

Comment on Struggling to write by Ed Schief

Ed Schief — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 01:23:52 +0000

For what it’s worth, I’ve found that although my best creativity is a little elusive, I can do about 90% even when I don’t feel like it. I think it IS a discipline. Carve out the time, sit down every day, etc., and you’ll see results.

The stuff is there, but it probably needs daily coaxing.

Comment on Gifts by Ed Schief

Ed Schief — Fri, 26 Sep 2008 00:05:33 +0000

So…you’re saying I should have more CD’s in my car than just the three Beach Boys?

Comment on Singers by Ed Schief

Ed Schief — Fri, 26 Sep 2008 00:02:18 +0000

Preach it, Randi.

Comment on Why Music? by Ed Schief

Ed Schief — Sat, 13 Sep 2008 02:10:00 +0000

In 1999 I stumbled on a CD that impacted me so much I can’t listen to it anymore. I was separated from my wife, living in a tiny, sparsely furnished, borrowed apartment, and had no idea where my life was headed. Everything seemed turned on it’s head, out of focus–pick your metaphor.

Evenings were lonely, nights were downright nasty, so I’d wrangle invitations to people’s houses for the evening, walk around in the mall, but eventually I’d have to go back. I’d park by the dumpster, walk up the concrete steps, turn the key, flop on the too-small couch and leave the TV on until 2am.

One rainy November Friday night my friend Roland invited me to go with him and a co-worker to Chicago to hear a band at the Jazz Showcase. Traffic was heavy and visibility was poor, turning the interior of the car into a little universe unto itself. The conversation would stop for long stretches, leaving me in the back seat with the hissing of the tires on the wet road, the slap of the windshield wipers, and my thoughts.

Jim, Roland’s friend slipped a CD into the player, and from the first notes I was completely transported. I thought, ‘this is exactly how I feel’.

It was a moody, jazzy movie soundtrack CD, ‘Playing By Heart’, featuring the trumpets of Chet Baker and Chris Botti., arranged and produced by John Barry. It didn’t just fit my mood–I instantly felt like I could no longer go on without that music. Like the soundtrack hadn’t been written for a movie, but rather for my life.

I took the CD everywhere with me for several years, and I’d play it for people and say, ‘This is how I feel’, but of course, it didn’t make them feel that way. Twice I took it to SoCal, where I’d drive around watching the lights coming on in the hills and wondering what would happen to me. One night in particular comes to mind; sitting in the parking lot of the Town & Country Convention Center, watching the traffic on I5 and staring at the lit-up UCSD sign up on a hill.

I pull it out once in a while, but the old feeling inevitably creeps in, and I can’t listen more than a few minutes.

If you’re curious, Randi, I’ll burn you a copy.