Surrounded by your Glory

It's nearly 1:30am and I'm looking at my computer screen not with tired eyes but with a sight on a wondrous vision in my mind.
It's amazing how the heart speaks to people and I shared wonderful conversation tonight over dinner with your friends.

The show I am writing and recording for at the moment has a nun's item. They were in need of a song as a big number for choir and I suggested a song which has always spoke to me. I can only imagine by the band MercyMe gives the image of being surrounded by God's Glory and truly kneeling in the presence of God. I can only imagine what the will be like, but I can only believe that it will be awesome (In the true sense of the word). I got the oppurtunity to fill in today for a soloist who is not well at the moment. My heart felt a stir as I sang and the words of this song seemed to really resonate with my soul today.

I even got to share somewhat of a journey over dinner. I thank God for all the people in my life.

Wow what 11 weeks can do to the body, mind and spirit

Well another term has come to and end. I know that for some people who read this they are going to say 'so what, you get 12 weeks holiday a year and you get paid well... stop whinging.'

I am not going to even grace those thoughts with a response, because really I've grown even in the last 11 weeks to be comfortable with people assuming that without realising all of the rigours of the job.

11 weeks have flown by at times, and other times have felt like I'm digging through the ground with a teaspoon to dig out my trench against the often edgy teenage population. Underscoring this has been a slow but fufilling journey. I have experienced extreme highs and extreme lows. I have learnt that I may be very resillient but even I have the frustration fuse in me and that I have to keep it in check. I have learnt the lessons of sufferers of disease and just what I should complain about. I have learnt that my life is so precious to others and that I am finding a great joy in sharing life with them.

Sometimes I forget to say no, step back and look at life.... In fact if I was truthful, it's not so much that I forget as I just don't say no...... A lesson to be learnt in this, from an expert in this field. Your mind and body knows when to stop... it's our ignorance that leads us to suffer and our pride in stopping and asking for help. We are strong in Christ not in ourselves. God wants to talk to us and guide us, not hang on while we decide to take him on a ride.

2 weeks of holidays don't exist unfortuantly. I'm off to Sweden for a couple of weeks after the holidays and thus have had to take leave without pay... a few more years yet before long service leave... Knowing me I won't take LSL and battle on... :S

I have lessons to plan, shows to play for, research to be done and most of all, time to clean up, practise heaps and imagination what the future has installed for me.... God Bless you all.

Plans and options

It's funny how no matter what you plan in life, something will pop up to challenge you so that you have to think about options.

I have looked at a lot of situations in my life recently and have determined that I have many options, many gifts and many skills in which I could trial and see what works.

I'm finding though that my searching into my own mind and heart has revealed some very important insights that I know I have always valued, but may have not always spent time focussing on their impact.

There is my generousity: I have been given so much by people in my past. Not only money or possesion, but friendship, guidance, love, kindness, respect and hospitality. It is a gift that I really feel needs to be repaid. Not necessarily to the people who were generous to me, but to others so we can keep generousity moving throughout society.

There is my judgement: I'm not perfect, but I do find that some things in my life are really sound when it comes to my thoughts and my deeds. I live those values rather than impose, but hopefully others will see it and know about how important the values of Honesty, Integrity, and sound decisions are to my life.

and then there is something that is very important; Trust.
I have had many discussions with people lately about why I do or don't have an issue with trust.
I don't have an issue with trust as much as the people who break it. It's not that I don't like the people.. I just really dislike the action.
Too many times, the trust is broken between people and rather than grace being displayed or reconcilliation happening, we are pushed into the spiral that is lies and justification for our actions. We are all vunerable to this and it is important that we keep in mind what our hearts say to us when this happens to us.

My life is always a challenge when it comes to balancing it all out. I know that options are there, and I have people that I know keep me in check and keep me moving forward. Words don't have to be written or said to know the importance of them in my life. When I've had an option to run, I've found I'm never alone and together I can fight my battles, knowing that my true friends are fighting right along beside me. With my Trust, I have faith, with my judgement comes grace and with my generousity comes Love.


What are your options in Life?

Learning to deal with Critiques

I sit in a full theatre and watch as one by one the competitors walk on stage and have their 3-5 minutes of fame, knowing all too well what their minds and bodies are doing under the stress of not only being watched, but critiqued and ranked.

It wasn't that long ago that I experienced that very feeling and the feelings of doubt and fear can only be counteracted by Practice, Preparation and Confidence.

It's a little longer though that I was doing this as a secondary student as many of the students I watched tonight were. The scary part for me is that I remember those moments like it was yesterday. I remember sitting next to friends backstage knowing that as soon as I stepped over the taped line on side stage it was game on and the best person on the day won. We would all then sit back and chill and laugh at the stupid things that we did at school or on the weekends.

I was lucky, I had and continue to have great support from my family and friends, especially my Mum and Dad. They were not like other parents who would berate their kids for making a mistake or cause a big fuss. They just sat there and enjoyed the fact that I was able to get up and provide entertainment for others and nearly always smile after it. For me it wasn't about the awards or accolades, they went to people that probably cared more than me, and for the most part I felt the judgements were fair. I do think it was for the most part, not all the time.

It's interesting that as a student I cared less about the competition and the rules as I do as a teacher. In fact, I believe that sometimes it's important to follow the letter of the law and sometimes discretion has to be used, but for the most part I thnk that sometimes the rules mean we miss the point.
It's all about caring about giving the students and competitors access to comments from a extremely qualified professional as well as a stage to learn the craft of performance. As a parent it's important to encourage and foster the skills that bring out the positive confidence but also humbleness. It's not about living in your childs spotlight but letting the child find there own to turn on and shine.

I had many memories come back to me tonight. Some brought a little smile and some a silent chuckle but those moments shaped me as a performer today and to some that's an awesome thing. To me, it's just having a good time in the presence of others. If it's you that's been there with me. Thank You!!!!!

Whirlwind and Stillness

I am once again reminded that when the storms of life are around us and we feel we can't go on, we should remember that when there is only one set of footsteps on our journey of life, THEY ARE NOT OURS!

If they were, we would be bogged in the sand and not moving forward, gliding over all that life throws at us and rising up like an eagle soaring on a mountain top.

We just have to realise that seasons come and seasons go, but our hearts need to stay focused on ETERNITY!

Before this Site

Before I had a blogspot, which I am continually excited about, I would write blogs on my Myspace account. If you wish to read blogs prior to this site, please visit www.myspace.com/trumpetscreamer

enjoy and if you want add me as a friend...

Peace,

Don

Smile

I don't know about you, but I find it slightly ironic that one of the biggest silent movie stars in the history of motion picture if not the biggest wrote some of the most beautiful lyrics and song. This song continues to speak to millions of people as they hear it and of course speaks to me.

In Life, sometimes we realise that nothing is happening that is nice and we get down. This reminds us all, that the most powerful weapon to sadness is a smile. It is not only infectious to those who recieve but blesses those who give.

SMILE - CHARLIE CHAPLIN


Smile though your heart is aching
Smile even though it's breaking
When there are clouds in the sky, you'll get by
If you smile through your fear and sorrow
Smile and maybe tomorrow
You'll see the sun come shining through for you

Light up your face with gladness
Hide every trace of sadness
Although a tear may be ever so near
That's the time you must keep on trying
Smile, what's the use of crying?
You'll find that life is still worthwhile
If you just smile

Sometimes Life teaches us a valuable lesson!

My life revolves around Music and tonight I want to highlight some words of one of my favourite Musicals Wicked. In the musical, the worlds of the witch from the West (Elphaba) and the East (Galinda) collide and through struggle and adversity they form a friendship.

Today one of my young friends and students lost his battle with Cancer. His fight was full of strength and courage and the legacy and life that he has left behind has served as a beacon to those who know him. I'm not going to name him, for that has been done many times, but I am going to honour his memory in this way. The following song is called 'For Good'. It's a powerful finale to a powerful story in Wicked, but it is a testament to what my young friend meant to me and others. As the sun came down on another day today, my heart and my thoughts were with a family that is now grieving, a school which is now holding the glimmering torch of hope for others and a community that is sadder for losing one of their gems.

Please pray for all Cancer Patients. It could happen to any of us at anytime...

I've heard it said
That people come into our lives for a reason
Bringing something we must learn
And we are led
To those who help us most to grow
If we let them
And we help them in return
Well, I don't know if I believe that's true
But I know I'm who I am today
Because I knew you...

Like a comet pulled from orbit
As it passes a sun
Like a stream that meets a boulder
Halfway through the wood
Who can say if I've been changed for the better?
But because I knew you
I have been changed for good


It well may be
That we will never meet again
In this lifetime
So let me say before we part
So much of me
Is made of what I learned from you
You'll be with me
Like a handprint on my heart
And now whatever way our stories end
I know you have re-written mine
By being my friend...

Like a ship blown from its mooring
By a wind off the sea
Like a seed dropped by a skybird
In a distant wood
Who can say if I've been changed for the better?
But because I knew you

I have been changed for Good

Lyric Source: http://www.metrolyrics.com/for-good-lyrics-wicked.html

Lyrics to reflect my Mood!

It's interesting to me sometimes what lessons we learn in life from others. To be honest, I am not the stern person I used to be but a rounded, deep thinking adult with moral judgement and career dreams. Sometimes though, we get shown by others that no matter what we face in life, there is always someone out there that can show us that most of the things we stress about are so insignificant, that we should stress about them at all.

The Following song is resonating in my heart tonight. It speaks for itself, but to put ourselves in the shoes of others is to understand the lessons of life that are being shown to us.

God Bless,

He's My Son - Mark Schultz

I'm down on my knees again tonight
I'm hoping this prayer will turn out right
See there is a boy that needs Your help
I've done all that I can do myself
His mother is tired
I'm sure You can understand
Each night as he sleeps
She goes in to hold his hand
And she tries not to cry
As the tears fill her eyes

CHORUS:
Can You hear me?
Am I getting through tonight?
Can You see him?
Can You make him feel all right?
If You can hear me
Let me take his place somehow
See, he's not just anyone
He's my son

Sometimes late at night I watch him sleep
I dream of the boy he'd like to be
I try to be strong and see him through
But God who he needs right now is You
Let him grow old
Live life without this fear
What would I be
Living without him here
He's so tired and he's scared
Let him know that You're there

CHORUS

Can You hear me?
Can You see him?
Please don't leave him
He's my son

Memories should be providing us with hope and a future

I stood and watch them march right by,

They heads were held so proudly high,

They took some steps they'd taken before,

In Memory of those who died on foreign shores.

They didn't ask for honour,

When they signed up for their war,

They didn't sign to lose a mate,

or to open up Hell's Gate.

THANK YOU ANZACS! YOUR SACRIFICE MADE MY HOME FREE!

LEST WE FORGET!