Do you think something flashy is going to happen?
No.
Do you wish something flashy is going to happen?
Yes.
Let’s Talk Practice and Lessons.
I started playing the bass guitar a little over a year and half ago. I had about 12 lessons before life got in the way and I lost touch with my instructor. I have been in my praise band in my church since I started playing, therefore there has always been a purpose. As the shift in our church has drifted more towards music under our new Pastor, it has given our band more depth of musical choices. This has brought a more complex music genre to our band. In addition, we have a new vocalist who joined us recently as well. All these changes along with my lack of experience and knowledge have given me new resolve. I must get back to the basics.
LESSONS AND PRACTICE.
The problem? Life is still in the way.
Wouldn’t it be great if we didn’t have to do any of the work? Wouldn’t it be great if prayer was the only answer? Wouldn’t it be great if we just had Flashy Thing Happen? Like for example: All we would have to do is pray and leave the rest up to God. What a simple plan right?
EXCEPT…
Don’t get me wrong… Prayer is a TOP SHELF TOOL. Prayer is The Way God wants us to keep our relationship with Him. Unfortunately though, it is not the only answer. WE HAVE TO DO THE WORK TOO!
I can’t just pray for Flashy Thing to happen.
Think Will Smith and Men In Black – MIB
- Slimy, shadowy creatures hiding in plain sight
- Wearing human “skin suits” that hang awkwardly and don’t quite fit
- Dripping goo or leaving wet, sticky trails behind them
- Bulging eyes, extra limbs, tentacles, or insect-like legs
- Twisting or jerking movements that feel unnatural and unsettling
- Strange clicking, hissing, or squishing sounds before they appear
- Smelling like decay, mildew, or something rotten
- Living in back alleys, sewers, pawn shops, and rundown apartments
- Blending into crowds but always looking slightly “off”
- Shedding skin, slime, or fragments of their bodies
- More biological and gross than futuristic or beautiful
- Messy, weird, and sometimes downright disgusting instead of heroic or majestic
- Arguing about coffee while secretly having three hearts
Wouldn’t it be great if you could do Flashy Thing and all that ROT would go away?
Instead…
I found a new music instructor. We have had one lesson and already life has gotten in the way. It’s a freakin mess. It’s a train wreck, as a matter of fact. Practice has been put on the back burner. Where one would get the idea of being bored with practice is really not on my menu. It’s more like, “heavy weight”: Can I get to it? Can I get focused? Can I get the time? Can I get a break? I mean Where’s The Fish anyway? All I want to do is pick up my bass and play and learn. Practice? Bring it on. Calluses?- Awesome. Repeat it over and over again? Just ask my wife or anyone in my family. I am very well known for listening to music like this: I play the same song over and over again and then I play the same song over and over again. Put me on a musical instrument and guess what? Let’s play that song again! When our band leader asks if we are good with that song, guess who says “I want to do it again?” Yep – Me.
So let’s Do It!
Mastery is not given by Flashy Thing. Mastery is Built by Self Discipline.
M – Mindful Practice.
I – Intentional Improvement.
B – Build Consistency.
1 Corinthians 9:24-25
Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever.
No Need for Flashy Thing.