Recharge is not Optional

Walter WellbornLeave a comment on Recharge is not Optional

Sometimes being selfish is not selfish at all. Instead, it is a practical approach that actually gives you more time and resources to help others. Let’s face it, you can’t give energy to others is you have run out of energy yourself. I’ve heard people tell me that “God will never give you more than you can handle” or “God will give you all the energy you need to accomplish His will.” I firmly believe that God will provide the resources to do His work. But you want to know something? Jesus rested. That’s right. Jesus rested. He had to re-energize. I have never seen an image of Jesus frolicking with the cross. The truth is that Jesus got tired. It was the human in Him. God expects you to take time for yourself and re-energize. And that doesn’t mean a monumental pray-a-thon and please don’t misunderstand me when I say that. Praying can be extremely tiring because, when it is focused and directed it requires and extreme amount of energy. I believe in prayer. It just may leave you more tired.

I can hear you now, “That’s nice, Walt, but what has that got to do with music?” Actually, it has a lot to do with music… at least for me. You see, when I am most tired, I am worthless at the keyboard (piano or computer). Can I work? Sure, I can work, but the quality suffers tremendously. I’m sure that all of you have been at that point where you are just too exhausted to pick up a drum stick, pluck a guitar or hammer out a note. Nothing seems to work. You feel like you are working in a void and noting connects. It doesn’t mean you don’t love the Lord or that you have lost your faith or that your skills are dying (although you may certainly believe that).

Take a tip from a flight attendant. She will tell you that you need to pull the oxygen mask over your face before you help anyone else, even your children. Why does she tell you to do that? Seems rather selfish, doesn’t it. In truth, she understands that if you don’t take care of yourself first, it is likely you won’t have the resources to help anyone else because you will be passed out. Where does that leave those around you that really counted on you for help? It’s not selfish. It’s practical. It’s what we come to understand as we accept our humanity. These are fragile shells we inhabit and they have to be taken care of with a sense of dedication and humility. We have to admit we are fragile and sometimes that is a very difficult thing for us to do.

Now, how to we recharge? There are lots of ways to do this and opinions vary. Yoga, recreation, sleep, sitting out in a field or on a mountain are all excellent ways, but you need to figure out what works for you. As for me, I get recharged when I am helping others. There’s just something powerful and invigorating when I focus on someone else’s needs. When I am finished, I am much more relaxed. That doesn’t work for everyone.

Share with me how you recharge and how it affects your music. We can all learn more from each other on how to keep ourselves functional and aligned with our purpose.

The Problem with the Comfort Zone

Walter WellbornLeave a comment on The Problem with the Comfort Zone

Are you in your comfort zone? Comfort zones can provide a safe harbor in times of stormy weather. I know when I have struggled through a difficult project and finally wrap it up I often seek refuge in my comfort zone, doing things that I can normally do blindfolded, just to settle my brain before I start something new. The problem with comfort zones is that is it very difficult to leave them once you are nestled in. This could be anything ranging from working regular hours, writing music only for a specific instrument or voice. It can even mean doing paperwork to catch up. But sometimes, when you see that next major project in front of you and knowing you are going to have to gear back up, you just want to embrace that warm blanket of working inside a box rather than take on the new challenge.

I also have this problem when I hit a dry spell of creativity. You know what I am talking about. Those long spells where nothing you are working on seems to be fruitful. Whatever you are working on leaves a bad taste in your mouth and you just want to rip everything up you have been working on and throw it in the trash. This has been going on for as long as people have been involved in creative projects. How do you break the spell?

Well, the first thing that you have to ask is this: “Am I being true to the source of my inspiration?” I know from a personal perspective that I have to spend a lot of time in prayer trying to understand why I am not in sync with my Heavenly Father. Usually, my heart and mind are just not focused on where he is trying to lead me. I find that I am trying to force a direction rather than allowing God to lead me where he wants me to go. I want to work on this and the He wants me to work on that. That’s called being stubborn and I have it down to an art form.

I find it amazing that when I realize what is going on and I allow myself to refocus and seek God’s guidance that the dam breaks loose and once again the creative process overwhelms me and the music starts pouring out. As least for me, my inspiration has to lead. The more I try to force myself down a path, the harder the work becomes and the quality drops tremendously. It is such a relief when I put my own desires aside and get back in sync with what God is needing me to do.

You have to be true to what’s important to you and always remember that inspiration generally doesn’t thrive in a narcissistic environment. If you are working out of sync, it’s like trying to write a poem about love without ever experiencing love. How can you embrace something you have never felt?

Remember, your strength comes from your inspiration and to feel and use that strength you really have to step outside your comfort zone. Resting on your laurels will never get the job done and to face the battles outside of your comfort zone you have to embrace the strength of your inspiration. It is the way God intended it.