Release

If my words did glow with the gold of sunshine
And my tunes were played on the harp unstrung,
Would you hear my voice come thru the music?
Would you hold it near as it were your own?

It's a hand-me-down. The thoughts are broken.
Perhaps they're better left unsung.
I don't know, don't really care:
Let there be songs to fill the air!
--The Grateful Dead

Today is the big day: After three years, The Stone of Beth El is finally available. It is up on CD baby. The website is all set up. The set list for the party is put together. Everything is ready.

I hope to see some of you at Global Arts tonight. For those of you who can't make it, I'll try to get some videos up in the next week or so: Thanks for being with me in spirit. Be sure to check out the cause this CD is supporting. If you buy a CD, check out the lyrics tab here on the website.

This recording is my best work so far, three years in the making, with an incredibly willing and able supporting cast. I'm excited to finally get it out there. It's a little scary, too, putting my skills, my creativity, my hard work, my soul out there for people to purchase. I hope most people will enjoy the music. Maybe some who are struggling will find something in there to make their journey a little smoother. Maybe those who don't struggle enough will find something to challenge them. And maybe, heaven forbid, some will not like it a bit. cringe grovel squirm

But that's the way things go. In a small way, it is sort of like being a parent. We have these years to work with our daughter, to teach her and empower her and prepare her the best we can. But just like our music, I know our parenthood is less-than-perfect. And at some point we'll have to release her, too: dress her up and send her out into this big, beautiful, scary world to use what she's learned.

My wife once asked me if I was ever going to let some boy take my little girl to the prom. My answer involved something about a sniper rifle. I'm not sure I'm ready to think about that just yet. But I know the day will come.

I believe that one of our purposes in life is to learn to sing the song God has put inside us. Whatever form the song might take, you have to let go of self-consciousness and perfectionism and fear of failure. You have to do the best you can and trust God with the rest. You have to let it go.

Whatever your song is, you have to release it.

Because a kid who never leaves the safety of home never gets to be more than a kid. And music that isn't shared is little better than silence.

Enjoy the music, folks. I certainly have!

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