How to write a song

You may or may not remember in November how I posted my November resolutions. One of those was to write a song. Many a person has given me suggestions on what to make the song about, but I have still not written anything that I am happy with. So I thought I could use this post to explore the joys and sorrows of lyric writing, and hopefully receive some inspiration while I am at it.

The thing with song writing is that we all love the end result, the song. I love hearing good songs on the radio or on my iPod, and too often I am left thinking, "Why can't I write a song like that?". Especially when some lyrics seem so simple, yet so divine in the way they capture the exact thoughts in my mind. One song's chorus goes

"Too much to do, and there's not enough time. Not enough time."

This is one of my favourite songs at the moment, (Too Much To Do, by Sparkadia, if you were wondering) and although it is simple, it is a wonderful song to sing along to and get stuck in your head.

So I get to the point where I decide, I just need two lines for a chorus or maybe even less. it'll be easy to write a song then! But that isn't how it works out, well not for me anyway...

There are joys in song writing too though. You may have read my poem on rain, which with the help of a friend has been turned into a song. I have since played it in front of many friends and family, and it is always a joy listening to my brother humming along to a song that I wrote. But it seems my creative skills have stopped there...

I think my problem is that my mind is set on "having a time for everything". When I have time to sit down and think of some song lyrics, my mind is set on not giving anything, but at random intervals, I feel like everything and anything could fit into a song.

So, it seems if you found this post because of the title "How to write a song", you have definitely come to the wrong place. But I am never going to give up, and I hope you don't either.

The Psalmist wasn't necessarily talking about me then when he said "He is like a tree planted by streams of water ... Whatever he does prospers" but when I do write a song, I am sure it will be filled with what God has done for me, and how under him my life is fulfilled to the fullest.

Butterflies and more butterflies

Isn't it interesting that once you notice something, from then on you always seem to notice that thing where ever you go?

An example from me. The other day I was walking somewhere and a butterfly flew past my vision. It's orange and black wings caught my attention and I was forced to stop as it danced around me for some time. It surprised me a little because I hadn't seen (or noticed) a butterfly for a long time. It put a smile on my face, and I continued on.

From that day however, I have not stopped noticing butterflies everywhere. I saw two dancing together in the background as I had a conversation, found one sucking a flower with its straw like mouth, and discovered the "annoying insects" that flew in a group were just a group of butterflies. All of these findings kept reminding me of spring and the care free life that butterflies have.

It seems it applies to Gospel truths too. I often hear a sermon or read a bible passage that really challenges me, or reminds me to do something, and then throughout the week I am hit with opportunities to put what I learnt into practice, or to share what I learnt with others. For example I was reminded the other day that I should love the whole world (I posted about it here). The next day I stumbled across a website asking people to do a food drive in their neighborhood, which I am now organising; and I had the chance to give advice to a friend who didn't know who to love and who not to love.

It was great! It feels like God knows exactly what needs to be done to get something stuck in our brain. It is repetition, repetition, and more repetition! Hopefully, you feel the same way, and I pray that you will let God teach you something this week.

Creative Loving

How big is your circle of friends? The people you care for, the people you love? Differing between people it must be, do you know how big it should be? Well according to God, it should be 6371 km in diameter. And it's more like a sphere of friends actually...

Because guess what? God said to love everyone. The whole world! Even enemies, the stranger you see on the train, the neighbour everybody stays away from, the homeless man at the station. That's a daunting task isn't it! Whenever I get challenged to love like that, I give up without even trying. I say "too expensive" or "too time consuming" and after justifying myself, I forget all about it. But what's the point of being challenged if I don't do anything about it!

So, I came up with an idea...

You might remember some time ago I posted about how everyone had some creativity in them, even if it wasn't appreciated by others or by themselves. Well, one good way to use our gift of creativity would be in love. To do some Creative Loving. 

What I mean with creative love is not "How to say 'I Love You' in 100 creative ways", which is what the world might think of the term, but rather understanding that with whatever skills or resources we have (doesn't have to be money) we can love someone, in response to Jesus' love for us. 

So for me, I have decided to give more of my time and "status", as some might call it, away to love those in need. Practically, this would mean me stopping to talk with those who might be lonely, or collecting cans from neighbours for the homeless to eat.

Although creative loving makes it sound more fun, loving all the people in the world is a daunting and near impossible task. That doesn't mean we give up without trying. Start with small steps, remembering that your love is just a reflection of God's love for us. 

Long distance Phone Call

I just came off a long-distance phone call. From my mobile. For 20 minutes. And I had one last week too... You must think I am either super rich or I've got a really good phone plan. I am neither. Both calls were totally free. It's because I didn't really need to have a phone to talk to this person. He doesn't have a phone number, or a time when it goes onto voice mail, and you only hear his pre-recorded voice. No, he is able to listen to whatever we want to say, whenever we want, with us paying nothing, not even doing anything special...

By now you should know that I had two long conversations with God. It did feel like a phone call though, because I put my mobile to my ear, and talked into it the whole time. I just felt like it, and for me it was beneficial in concentrating, and letting everything out.

What did we talk about? Just life in general, really... The future, the past, work, school, relationships, friendships, enemies, emotions. Although I couldn't hear God's voice through the phone speaker, I knew he was listening. And it was one of the most satisfying conversations I ever had (Not just because the other side wouldn't interrupt at all, although that was quite special...). It was good because I knew that God was able to do something about what I said.

Most people will either say sorry, try and change the subject, or try to take your mind of the problem if you share anything bad that goes on in your life with them. Which is nice, because that is all they can do. But with God, he changes everything. Not that if you tell him you are getting bullied he will go down and smite the bully! But his love never ends. So when I told him I didn't know what was happening for my future, he comforted me in his hands, and reminded me that he truly was in control, so there was nothing to worry about.

I encourage you to also have a much needed long distance phone call with your heavenly father. The one who will be there no matter what, and love you. And as I love to think. Loved by God? That is the best thing in the world.

A Happy Hobby

10 minutes ago, I was a little down in the dumps, blue in the face, not punching my full weight. You know, sad, tired, annoyed. All those negative things that hit you sometimes and leave you crawling on the floor, wondering if you would ever be able to get up again. But that was 10 minutes ago. Now, I'm quite all right. What happened in the ten minutes? I wrote.

Everyone has a hobby that lifts them up, I suspect. Take for example Molly. She loves to draw. Today wasn't really a good day for her so you see her with a frown and wrinkles attacking her face. You suggest that she draw something. First, she shakes her head fervently. But as you point out the beautiful sky and all the inspiration surrounding her, you see a tendril of a smile beginning to form at the edge of her lips. Which slowly turns into a smirk and then an ashamed smile, which is a smile nonetheless. It is actually quite amazing to see a smile born. I encourage you to try and coax one out of someone sometime.

Anyway, for Molly drawing was her "happy hobby". I'm sure all of you could name one thing that lend you the power to get up from the dumps and to stand up again. If you don't, it is always a good idea to remember that this "happy hobby" is only meant for yourself. If others don't like it, it doesn't matter! Sometimes it is good to be selfish and keep your masterpieces to yourself, especially when others just can't see through your lens.

I also just wanted to add that God is good, because I felt like it, and sometimes we so often focus on what he made and ourselves, we forget that he is there behind everything we do, everything we touch, everything we hear. Loving us, and sustaining us. Isn't he just amazing?

Month of silence

Sorry for the silence this past month, I could make excuses but I think I know what the real problem is. I have become tired of my own thoughts.

When I started this blog, every idea would make it to the drawing board because I wanted to flesh it out a bit, and see what came out of even some tiny observation. However, as the months passed by, I felt that I had to improve on my writing or something, so only select things would be mused on. But what happened was, as the list of things to talk about got smaller and smaller, writing about them became harder and harder, until I wouldn't even want to look at the computer screen anymore. And then comes the month of silence... It really was all my own fault.

Thankfully, I have been rebuked of my stupidity, and can tell you that if you read this blog because of the attention it gives to the small things in life, then you can enjoy it as I go back to doing so.

A short thought to end the post, I think it is a blessing to lose things. (There are many exceptions of course, but bear with me). Recently I was giving my room a well needed clean up which ended with my head being placed 1 inch from the ground as I cleared under my bed. What I found brightened my day! A name tag from a recent conference, which brought back all the memories; a guitar pick, which gave me an excuse to pick up my guitar and play it; and a wrist band, which reminded me of the things I was thinking when I bought it. If I had not lost these things, they would not have been appreciated so much, much like my thoughts. If I had not lost them in the process of trying to clear out my mind (I'm not saying that I am losing my mind though!) I would not appreciate them as much as if they were still there all the time.

So thank you for enduring this month of silence, as I learnt some new things. Hopefully you have to.

Those little things that matter

I've got about 30 minutes left before my body shuts down and I fall into my much needed sleep. What will I share with you? Well, I don't know either! You might remember me wanting to change the style of my writing about a month ago. You also might have noticed, nothing really has changed... I didn't want to break my promise, so a new way of writing, a new way of thinking. Since its the new year, it probably is appropriate. What do you think it means?

Five men walk through the woods.

Talking all sorts of whimsical words such as politics and what sport star is their favourite.

One stops by the road to sniff a wild flower, and is left behind.

Four men reach the nearby creek.

Showing off all their latest gadgets to impress their peers.

One jumps into the creek to feel the cool water rush against his skin, and is left behind.

Three men wait at the train station.

Challenging each other's minds with classic riddles.

One hardly listens, and instead follows the path of a tiny ant, and is left behind.

Two men watching the television.

Tensing as a murderer appears on screen.

One nods off and experiences the true wonder of his dreams, and is left behind.

One man eating his dinner in silence.

Planning his life out so he can relax.

He gets what he wanted...

The others get distracted by better things.