Morning in Coral Gables

I keep waking up happy to be alive and eager to get out there and get things done. This can be pretty tiresome to the people around you. It’s like having Kathy Lee Gifford sneak up behind you and hug you all the time, while singing “You Light up my Life.”

I have realized I have to make a musical decision. I have to pick one or two instruments, pick them up, work on them seriously, and forget the rest. Otherwise I will have no music in my life.

I’m thinking piano and guitar are the way to go. Their versatility is too hard to pass up.

Last night I took out a couple of my guitars and started playing around with them. I’m going to pick up a few needed accessories and form a plan. Yes, Christians can plan. It’s not really a sin, regardless of the way we generally behave.

Last week the main guitarist at my church introduced himself. This kid can really play. I told him how impressed I was with his work, and naturally, he was so humble about it, it was hard to get the message into his head. We talked about guitar, and I told him I ought to hire him to give me lessons so I could overcome my problems with electric instruments. He said I should get in touch any time. Man, I may do that.

My Internet use is dropping off. I think that’s good. It gives me more time to do real things, as contrasted with virtual ones. Maybe I can funnel some of the new time into music.

I really blew it with the guitar. I used to play very well, but I only practiced 15 minutes a day. I figured that if I couldn’t learn something with that much practice, it was impossible for me. When I started piano, I practiced a lot more than that, and I realized that even if you have some talent, you benefit a lot from long practice sessions. I could have been an excellent guitar player, but I didn’t have the right mindset or sufficient character.

God is working to restore things I’ve lost. I have reason to believe that my memory is improving. If that’s true, I have an opportunity to get real benefit from music practice. I want to try it out and see. For a long time, I had problems, learning too slowly and forgetting what I had learned. I know I sound crazy, but I don’t think those things are going to happen any more.

Right now I feel like life is full of opportunity again. I feel that some of my lost potential has been returned to me.

Hope I’m right.