So, after four and a half years of working for the world’s largest bio-tech company, Amgen… I have been set free from their employment. In another restructure, a few of us have been “reduced” and we will find our way forward. I am glad for my tenure there. I learned much about the corporate business world and about myself. I have many plans of what to do next, but as for today… I might just go to the beach and walk along the shore in this time of transition. Then, do the next thing next.
As I rode my motorcycle out of the parking structure this morning, I could hear Roger Daltrey singing to me…
I’m free – I’m free,
And freedom tastes of reality,
I’m free -I’m free,
And I’m waiting for you to follow me.
If I told you what it takes
to reach the highest high,
You’d laugh and say ‘nothing’s that simple’
But you’ve been told many times before
Messiahs pointed to the door
And no one had the guts to leave the temple!
Thanks to Brother Will for pointing out this quote on his blog:
The most important things are the hardest things to say. They are the things you get ashamed of, because words diminish them—words shrink things that seemed limitless when they were in your head to no more living size when they’re brought out. But it’s more than that, isn’t it? The most important things lie too close to wherever your secret heart is buried, like landmarks to a treasure your enemies would love to steal away. And you can make revelations that cost you dearly only to have people look at you in a funny way, not understanding what you’ve said at all, or why you thought is was so important that you almost cried while you were saying it. That’s the worst, I think. When the secret stays locked within not for want of a teller but for want of an understanding ear. ~Stephen King, The Body (which the movie Stand By Me was based on)
Like a dart… here’s truth that pierces to the heart of the matter. It is true that our secret heart is like a landmark to a treasure. If I don’t trust someone with the information, I usually just keep it guarded. When we… over and over and over… expose our heart to someone, only to be broken, criticized, misunderstood, bruised or laughed at, it is hard to keep going there with that person. But, sometimes, I just can’t help myself. I am compelled… driven to find common ground.
So, what does it take to find some of that common ground, a space where we can be open to our world? Also, a place where we can be human… generous… understanding… open. With some creativity, I know it can be done. Ready to take a ride? Straight to the Heart
Thanks again to Andrew and Terry Scott Taylor for joining us at the “Looking for Camarillo Eddie at the Brimer Backyard BBQ!” …and, for those of you that were not able to come… TOO BAD FOR YOU! We had a really wonderful evening. After sitting and mingling with the crowd, Terry was generous to us with story and song. It was so sweet to see his son Andrew playing along. I have heard about this young long legged kid from Buffalo Hills, and there he was with bass guitar in hand. A handful of fans and friends were able to watch from afar when they found out that I was streaming the event live over the internet. I love technology! I am glad that we got to share with some good folks in WA State, Stock Town, Nashville and as far away as Aussieland. Here are a couple of pix to commemorate the evening.
You are cordially invited to spend a rare and intimate evening of story and song with Daniel Amos frontman Terry Scott Taylor
Monday Sept 21st
Looking for Camarillo Eddie at the Brimer’s Camarillo Backyard BBQ
5:00 pm the grill will be hot. Bring your own meat and a side or dessert to share. (Chips and home-made cookies do count as sides) Beverages will be supplied.
Bring your own FOLDING CHAIR if you don’t want to sit on the ground.
7:00PM Terry Scott Taylor will be offering his witty, humorous and heartfelt songs and stories.
Terry is bringing his tip jar. Bring bills to fill it to the brim.
Terry Scott Taylor is a man who wears many hats. Singer. Cowboy hat. Songwriter. Baseball cap. Father. Fedora. Producer. Prophet. Prankster. Pioneer. As the founder of legendary CCM band Daniel Amos he helped pioneer a new artistically-minded aesthetic in a musically stunted genre. As the merry prankster behind the Swirling Eddies he became a supreme satirist while continuously shedding musical skins. As chief songwriter for the Lost Dogs he brought modern maturity to the old forms and helped make them relevant to new generations. As a composer for video games and cartoons he brought his quirky genius to bear in a field that had been rendered dull and void by electronic keyboards. As a solo artist he laid bare his personal life—its triumphs and tragedies—and made his story our story as well. Some of his songs are limericks. Some are literature. He’s flown under most of the radar for more than 30 years but those in the know rank him among our greatest living treasures.
Terry will not only entertain you with humorous and moving anecdotes and songs, he will offer readings from his forthcoming book of collected non-fiction, lyric recitations and commentary, and perform a variety of familiar songs as well as those rarely, if ever, performed in a live setting.
Even if you’ve never heard his music An Intimate evening with Terry Scott Taylorpromises to be a surprising, ‘don’t miss’ one-of-a-kind event. Please join us and pass the word.
Each of us have probably seen a National Geographic expedition to the top of a snow capped mountain. I once had my own travels to the Matterhorn in Switzerland. At its base, it stands a mere 10,695 feet while at the peak, it stands 14,691 feet. By no means is it insignificant. The majesty and lure draws skiers and mountain climbers from around the world. I spent an awe-inspiring day skiing around the alpine slopes that surround Matterhorn. I was not prepared for the beauty, but I also was not prepared for the struggle I would endure to get down the mountaintop… alone with one other skier at the end of the day… to ski across the face of a glacier. All I can say, is it was worth the effort. I could have stayed in the lodge, but at the end of the day, we set off on the gondola for one final run… a run from the top. The top of the ridge is also the border between France and Switzerland. Had I the time, I might have skied in two countries that day, but it was time to finish what we set off to do. And off we went.
There times in our life that we need to stop watching the action on television, and go on an adventure of our own. You can never start until you take the first step. You never know what will happen until you get back. I leave you with the following to ponder, as you dream about going on your next adventure.
In 1951, W. H. Murray wrote the following in The Scottish Himalaya Expedition:
When I said that nothing had been done I erred in one important matter. We had definitely committed ourselves and were halfway out of our ruts. We had put down our passage money — booked a sailing to Bombay. This may sound too simple, but is great in consequence. Until one is committed, there is hesitancy, the chance to draw back, always ineffectiveness. Concerning all acts of initiative (and creation), there is one elementary truth the ignorance of which kills countless ideas and splendid plans: that the moment one definitely commits oneself, then Providence moves too. A whole stream of events issues from the decision, raising in one’s favor all manner of unforeseen incidents, meetings and material assistance, which no man could have dreamt would have come his way. I learned a deep respect for one of Goethe’s couplets”:
Indecision brings its own delays,
And days are lost lamenting o’er lost days.
Are you in earnest? Seize this very minute;
What you can do, or dream you can do, begin it;
Boldness has genius, power and magic in it.
So, on Friday (June 19th) I will be leaving the daily grind to be a gypsy artist for a week. I will take my newly gesso-ed birch panels with me to San Onofre Beach where it will be my outpost for the week. San Clemente hosts a week long Plein Air competition and I will be taking the entire week to get some sun and painting done. I always look forward to my little trips about once a year… usually alone. It is a necessary thing for me to be in solitude. Distance from the stuff of daily life has a way of giving a new perspective. Interestingly, Saturday evening will be Summer Solstice. I do not necessarily “celebrate” this, but it offers a reminder that seasons do change and life goes on even after drastic life changes happen to us. There are these threshold moments in our lives that we can look back on and see where everything became different. We can not prepare for everything that lies in the path of our future, but we can know that the trail that we have been on so far has brought us to where we are now.
My artist friend Michael Pearce has a spool of shoelace material. Stitched into the lace is the word “Solitude” which is a word that I cherish. It is idealistic of me to think that I can have solitude in the chaos of my life, but I try to be reminded of its value. In the book “The Way of the Heart” Henri Nouwen has an entire chapter talking of the importance of solitude in our busy lives. It is a way to spiritually re-charge. It is infact the first step on a path that he describes as the way of the heart. (the next steps are silence and prayer) Of solitude he says “Solitude is the furnace of transformation.” He goes on to say in another book “In solitude we discover that life is not a possession to be defended, but a gift to be shared.” It is there, in solitude that I do recharge my gift. I am able to go back to the daily life of family, work, community and share the gift of life. I am truly looking forward to filling up with grace and the suns vitamin D boost as I paint along the coast next week.
So, my son is trying to get out of 8th grade… I mean pass his history class so he does not have to repeat. So, for his final project he made a little video presentation. We are hoping that Mr. Rice has a sense of humor … Enjoy
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