The Importance of Being Silent

Over these past few days, I have now more than ever learned the importance of being silent. Being in the field of study that I am, music, there is not much time allowed for silence. Whether it be classes such as concert choir, chamber choir or opera, or private rehearsal for voice or just listening to music in the car, I find myself rarely, if ever, listening to absolute silence. However, with so many things going on during our Madrigal Feaste, I realize that silence is part of what makes music, and life enjoyable, and bearable.
Being silent, in my opinion, can be a necessity, or an easy way to heighten an emotional experience. With the twenty-one people on stage during madrigal feast, there was rarely a question asked when at least 10 people didn't answer. People don't understand the fact that you don't HAVE to say anything if a question is irrelevant to you. The thing that really, for lack of a better word, irritated me, was the fact that when a question was asked with a specific answer in mind, people would blurt things out that were completely unrelated. Completely. If you are not silent at least part of the time, then you are speaking ALL the time, and nobody is that intelligent or interesting I'm sorry to say. Oh well, so much for silence as a necessity.
Also, I have found that silence can be a tool used for increasing an experience or making you more aware of the sounds in your life. As I was standing on the balcony with my girlfriend Delia, it was so quiet and still looking out over Birmingham, it was an extreme moment of clarity and reflection. It allowed me to enjoy the sights, smells, and sensations all around me. Silence can be beautiful, if you only listen.
One composer perhaps got it right when he wrote his, "3'44", I don't remember the composer, but the concept behind this piece is incredible. A man sits at his piano for three minutes and forty four seconds, absolutely silent, so as to make the audience aware of their breating, heartbeat, and all the other sounds that are a part of the "silence." Incredible. This man truly understood the importance and beauty of being silent.

"It is better to be silent and to have someone think you a fool, than to open your mouth and remove all doubt."
-Abraham Lincoln
p.s. happy six months delia!!

On a Lighter Note....

At long last, the tyrannical rule is over!! The peasants of all the land rejoice as the evil dictator has been toppled!! The 75 day long occupation of my TV has been ended. Let it be known from the highest peaks to the lowest valleys that the brutal, relentless, brilliant Mr. Jennings has been deposed! The Land of Jeopardy shall have a new champion!

Mediocrity

Does this word frighten anyone else as it does myself? In closing of my last post, I said "Be Special," and I know that everyone has aspirations of being acceptional. But does anyone's drive for success come not only from a desire to accomplish but from a fear of being average? To me, mediocrity is unacceptable, and inevitably precedes anonymity. I aspire to greatness, and though this may seem hard to believe, it is none the less, true. A mediocre life is one that has nothing to show for itself, one that has been satisfied with a bare minimum, and with "scraping by." This willingness to settle is hard for me to comprehend. I have seen the wonderful people in my life, and the greatness that not only have the achieved, but I have caught a glimpse of what they will achieve in the future. To me, being average is easy. It requires no great talent, no dedication, no hard work or sacrifice. In a way, mediocrity is non-existence. Well, I think I've been inspired enough for one night. It's time for bed. Remember....Exist, aspire to greatness.
chalres

"Find the Miraculous in the Common Place"

I am very curious as to whether anyone who might read this blog could tell me who wrote these words over a hundred years ago.
My junior year of high school, I wrote a research paper on Ralph Waldo Emerson and found these inspiring words in one of his essays. All this to introduce my first personal blog.

I am a content person. For the past year or so, things have been steadily getting better and better, and I feel this is due in large part to my new found faith in God, and subsequent affirmations of his existence. It worries me when people say that "Miracles don't exist or happen," or, "I don't believe in miracles." While it may be true that waters have not been parted, or someone has not been physically raised from the dead in thousands of years, it is my strong belief that miracles happen every day, and are much more commonplace than people want to or can believe. Take today for example, I had a test that I had not prepared for and would not have done well on, and, even though it was my fault that I was not better prepared, the test was postponed until Friday. A miracle. Finding out that a class is canceled, a spiritual moment in choir (personally speaking), and getting two cokes for the price of one (that happened yesterday), these are all miracles that I think people grossly overlook. It is these "small" miracles that make a life worth living. Whether you hold any of the same convictions I hold or not, I do hope that you realize that there are forces in the world stronger and bigger than you, and for some reason, some times, these forces work for you and create miracles all the time that people are so desperately looking for, but are blind to the fact that they are staring them in the face. Well, so much for the first meditation, hopefully I might have peaked your interest for a while and gotten you to think seriously for a bit. I know it doesn't seem like I do very much, but hopefully this blog will open a side of me to every one out there. Thanks so much, and remember....If everyone is special, that means no one is. Be Special.
Charles