When I was a teenager someone I looked up to told me that one of the most important things that I could learn in life was to 'do what comes naturally'. Being young and naive, I took these words to heart (as smoke poured out of his van...).
My guitar taught me a better lesson. It taught me about the importance of practice.
You see, everything worth cultivating in my life has taken years of disciplined study and repetition.
I've become a fairly good guitar player, but that's because I've been consistently playing for over 22 years. When I started I was really bad. Only after thousand of hours on the instrument did it become second nature.
Yes, we all have natural strengths and gifts. But I believe that it's what we do with them that truly matters.
A love of music came naturally to me.
Falling in love was the easy part. Becoming a musician was hard.
I think the same principle applies to character. For instance, I (being a Christian) want to be more like Jesus, but I am selfish by nature. However, the more I practice things like humility, gentleness and kindness, the more natural it becomes to follow His way.
Playing guitar has taught me that the beauty of what we gain is worth the pain that goes into our pursuits.
I just started playing piano. I think I'll make some beautiful music on it ten years from now.
In the meantime I'll have to work until I quit hitting bad notes.
Tonight I felt a small shock of electricity as I held a handwritten note that John Steinbeck wrote to a friend in the 1960's. It was a moment of awe.
I'm not sure why I was so moved, but it was a holy moment in my life.
I guess it's just meaningful to connect with the people who mean something to us. Even if we never meet them.
Once again, relationship proves to be at the heart of the universe.
Today I met a lady who shared an amazing story with me.
A few years ago her daughter was in a rehab program. During the trip to the centre she gave her one of my albums.
There was one song that she really connected with. Apparently, she listened to it over and over.
She paused, and then told me that she was convinced that the song had stopped her daughter from committing suicide.
I thanked her for sharing her story. I said it had made my week.
Actually, it has made my year.
I share this with you because I am reminded that our small acts of creation can carry a weight of grace that has the power to change the world.
Sometimes it goes beyond us in ways that we would never expect.
So keep loving. Keep creating.
Keep shouting hope into the void.
The sound of life just may echo back.
Last summer I built a patio at the top of my yard. The other night I spent a few rich hours there chatting with a good friend.
I had not simply built a patio.
I had created a place for meaningful conversations.
I believe that our creative works can serve as signposts and symbols of greater truth. They embody something more than what we see on the surface.
My song might be an incarnation of hope.
Your film may help someone see the world in a different way.
The apple pie that you bake may remind someone that creation is incredibly good.
A well-kept house may affirm order in the universe.
The examples could be endless.
We need to keep creating. It brings more good to the world than we know.