Harmony: How I found myself this year

Even as a young child taking piano I hated practicing my lessons in that little room in the back of the house, and now as an adult and a bassist, I still don't ever "woodshed".  In fact, I picked up bass in 1996 and figured out everything I now know during band practices from then until now.  I just don't have any desire to lock myself in a room and slave over scales and modes and such.
So I was only half joking when I was complaining to Aubrey that I would have to go home and practice my bass to get the hang of the awesome and unusual bass line she had written for her newest song.  However, she was not joking at all when she asked me: "Don't you just love to play bass anyway?" I stopped and thought about the question. "Well, I don't DIS-like playing bass, but I certainly don't wake up with an urge to play it." And then the crisis hit me:

Why do I play bass?!?

This is the primary instrument I've been playing for nearly 2 decades, in countless bands and at church, and I am not sure that I love playing it!  I am not sure why I play it!  It is half of my identity and it has no known purpose!

At this point I am in turmoil and everything that I think I know is in question.  Until I finally made this realization:

I play bass because of the relationship of the bassist to everyone else in the band.

For those of you who do not know, the role of the bass in rock music is similar to that of glue in woodworking.  Glue holds things together, while also maintaining appropriate separation.  Glue fills in gaps.  And when quality glue is applied properly, it dries clear.  The bass (and bassist) in rock music works in very similar ways.

So the realization here was that I play the instrument I play because of relationships.  It was from there that I made another realization:

I play music for the sake of the fellowship and community.

Sure, I value the artistic content of music, and creativity is very important to me, but the highest priority for me in music is fellowship.  People are what matter most.  All of a sudden it all started to make sense!  It is no wonder I never wanted to practice alone- my whole purpose in playing music was to be with people and strive together in a creative process with them!  And this explains why I always enjoyed singing harmony- there must always be at least one more person.

I truly value art, but I value it most in the context of community.  And then it hit me:

My whole life has been about community!

As far back as I can remember I have had a deep desire to overcome differences and bring people together.  I have always hated religious denominations.  I have always thought that mulatto children were beautiful, literally and metaphorically.  I have always felt strongly about unity, and I have always had a desire to provide means for people to simply come together.

The theme of my life is Harmony.

At 35 I feel both silly and blessed to have just figured out who I am.  I realize that I have always been who I am, but I am just now figuring it out.  Some of you may be reading this and thinking, "Well, tell me something I didn't already know!" but for me this is monumental, life-changing.  I can now view every opportunity in my life through the lens of who I am, and what I am pursuing, and involve myself in things that truly work towards my dreams and goals.  I cannot describe for you what a joy and a relief this is.  I can only hope that your realization is imminent, and that you can know this joy also.

Happy New Year!  Here's to being the person you were created to be!