The Weaver
My life is but a weaving between my God and me,
I can not choose the colors He worketh steadily.
Ofttimes He weaveth sorrow, and I in foolish pride,
forget that He seeth the upper, and I the underside.
Not till the loam is silent and the shuttles cease to fly,
shall God unroll the canvas and explain the reason why.
The dark threads are as needful in the Weaver's skillful hand,
as the threads of gold and silver in the pattern He has planned.
~Al Bryant
Tuesday, March 2, 2010
Becoming
“Ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what eis your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.” James 4:14
I had an epiphony today! A lot of it has to do with this scripture. The first time I had heard this verse was in the MTC, it was the last thing Bro. Jones read to us before we left for two years, two years where I learned my true potential and what life is really about living for! For everything I am today I can thank my parents and my mission, and everything I learned from them. Anyways, before I get even further off topic, I need to get this down, “God doesn't care so much about what you do, but what you become.”
Now, granted, this is not an original idea. Far from it. But you could say, that today I appreciate this principle more than I have in my entire life.
David Bednar said, “The Lord's teachings and teachers were given so that we may all attain 'the measure of the stature of the fulness of the Christ.' It is not even enough to be convinced of the gospel, we must act in such a way that we must be converted by it. In contrast to the institutions of the world that challenge us to know something, the Gospel of Jesus Christ challenges us to become something.”
Stephen Covey said, “Are you ever too busy driving to take time to get gas? Too busy sawing to take time to sharpen the saw? We don't need more time. We have all the time there is. No one has more of it than each of us have.What we need is to put priorities on our goals and activities and to manage ourselves accordingly, instead of allowing conditions to manage us. We always have time and take time for things which are really important to us.”
Confession: Sometimes at night, I'm too tired to read the Book of Mormon with my wife.
I can't say that I'm too busy to get enough sleep every night.
I can't say that I'm too busy during the day to be able to get to bed earlier.
That day, spending a half-hour on facebook or playing Halo or watching House was more important to me than reading the word of God with my eternal companion.
There's nothing harsh about the truth, and I've decided to be honest with myself. We are always taught to be honest with our fellow men, but I think all of us could be benefit with a little more honesty with ourselves! We stress because we don't manage our time properly, we get angry because we haven't managed the time to become a true Disciple of Christ and have the Spirit, we feel empty because we don't fit into our day, the things that make life rich! (“I am come that they might have life, that they might have it more abundantly”! John 10:10) God has given me spiritual gifts, He's given me talents, He's given me this life to become the best I can be. I squander too much of my precious time!
I think my epiphony came when I was driving home from my Percussion Master Class, and thinking about what I was going to do when I got home. And I couldn't decide whether to prepare for my Gospel Doctrine lesson or finish my tenor ensemble or memorizing scripture mastery. It hit me, these are things that I love to do, and these are the things that are going to help me become what God wants me to become! I'm going to work to fill my day with things that will better myself and not simply entertain!
I had an epiphony today! A lot of it has to do with this scripture. The first time I had heard this verse was in the MTC, it was the last thing Bro. Jones read to us before we left for two years, two years where I learned my true potential and what life is really about living for! For everything I am today I can thank my parents and my mission, and everything I learned from them. Anyways, before I get even further off topic, I need to get this down, “God doesn't care so much about what you do, but what you become.”
Now, granted, this is not an original idea. Far from it. But you could say, that today I appreciate this principle more than I have in my entire life.
David Bednar said, “The Lord's teachings and teachers were given so that we may all attain 'the measure of the stature of the fulness of the Christ.' It is not even enough to be convinced of the gospel, we must act in such a way that we must be converted by it. In contrast to the institutions of the world that challenge us to know something, the Gospel of Jesus Christ challenges us to become something.”
Stephen Covey said, “Are you ever too busy driving to take time to get gas? Too busy sawing to take time to sharpen the saw? We don't need more time. We have all the time there is. No one has more of it than each of us have.What we need is to put priorities on our goals and activities and to manage ourselves accordingly, instead of allowing conditions to manage us. We always have time and take time for things which are really important to us.”
Confession: Sometimes at night, I'm too tired to read the Book of Mormon with my wife.
I can't say that I'm too busy to get enough sleep every night.
I can't say that I'm too busy during the day to be able to get to bed earlier.
That day, spending a half-hour on facebook or playing Halo or watching House was more important to me than reading the word of God with my eternal companion.
There's nothing harsh about the truth, and I've decided to be honest with myself. We are always taught to be honest with our fellow men, but I think all of us could be benefit with a little more honesty with ourselves! We stress because we don't manage our time properly, we get angry because we haven't managed the time to become a true Disciple of Christ and have the Spirit, we feel empty because we don't fit into our day, the things that make life rich! (“I am come that they might have life, that they might have it more abundantly”! John 10:10) God has given me spiritual gifts, He's given me talents, He's given me this life to become the best I can be. I squander too much of my precious time!
I think my epiphony came when I was driving home from my Percussion Master Class, and thinking about what I was going to do when I got home. And I couldn't decide whether to prepare for my Gospel Doctrine lesson or finish my tenor ensemble or memorizing scripture mastery. It hit me, these are things that I love to do, and these are the things that are going to help me become what God wants me to become! I'm going to work to fill my day with things that will better myself and not simply entertain!
Thursday, February 25, 2010
Putting up
I'm sitting in a Music Explorations class on campus right now, not allowing one ounce of my brain to be caught up in what the teacher is saying. I'm just kind of "putting up" with this class. I'm sure every college student knows what I'm talking about. The other day I realized why I'm really going after Seminary. It's because when I do the homework, I have something more substantial in mind, more than just a grade.
If only all Gospel Doctrine teachers prepared their lessons with more than "just filling the hour" in mind.
If only all Gospel Doctrine teachers prepared their lessons with more than "just filling the hour" in mind.
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
Awkward
Sitting in the BYUI library, I've just overheard three conversations in the last ten minutes. These are the kinds of conversations that should not have been done in public. Why do people do that? I feel all sorts of awkward!
< ME
< ME
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
Spokane
Pack of Double-Stuff Oreos.
Honey Roasted Peanuts.
Beef Jerky.
Peanut M&M's.
Box of Cheez-its.
Jack Johnson En Concert.
One book on cd. (approx. 15 hours long)
This, is how Harwards travel. Ellie and I like to rationalize that calories don't count on road trips. This philosophy has been passed down from Harward to Harward for generations. For years, the most-often heard phrase muttered on family camping trips has been "Isn't it about time to eat something?"
Thank you Mr. President, for President's Day. We love you. Not so much for the fact that you look over the needs of our country, but for a day without school. Ellie and I, needing a desperate escape from approaching mid-terms, spent the three day weekend in Spokane with my family. And what an escape it was! If there's one thing I love about my family, it's the ability to have so much fun, without doing a whole lot of anything.
As an early birthday present, we decided to not tell my mom we were coming. It is so hard to sneak anything past this sharp woman! But conspiring with my dad and sister, we rolled into Spokane Friday around midnight, and snuck downstairs without waking her up. Saturday morning I called her from my cell phone and had a two minute conversation with her before walking upstairs and causing an uproar of screams, laughing and hugs!
Not wanting to spend a lot of money, we kept the day simple and spent it in downtown Spokane. It was blissfully warm, though it couldn't have been over sixty degrees. I am not a huge fan of the bitter Rexburg winters! We had a great time just walking around, Dad went nuts with the camera, like always. Thank goodness for him!
There was something on the edge of serene intoxication about sharing the day with Dad, Mom, Jared, Kimbo, Monty, Kate and Scott (my family) and my beautiful Ellie (my newer family). I imagine this feeling will feel even more eternal when Elle and I have a bun in the oven (far down the road). On my mission I learned for myself, time after time, experience after experience, that family and the Gospel are the only things that matter in life. Everything else vanishes away into perfect insignificance. Through the growing testimonies of the people I taught, I learned the true miracle of the Gospel. I'm just beginning to learn the true miracle of family, having just started my own.
I'm so lucky to happily married to a beautiful, strong woman! Every day I realize how happy she makes me! I think she had a good time. She's made the remark before, that all us Harwards have the same sense of humor, and this trip she commented that we're all starting to rub off on her! I remember my mom telling me how much she wanted Ellie in the family while we were dating. Mothers have an incredible sixth sense to pick out excellent wives for their sons!
My hope for the weekend trip was to just spend time with my family and have a good time, but something happened that I did not expect. Not only did I realize how much I love my family, but I realized how much I'm in love with Spokane. It's tall pines, it's rolling hills covered in trees, it's early Springs, it's old and new of Downtown, the reflection of the sky off the Spokane river, the pavillion and clocktower, the five lakes within a 30-minute drive. It happened to be an accident my family ended up there at all, but how grateful I am to know this place!
At one point, Ellie made the comment, "It wouldn't be the worst thing in the world if we ended up in Spokane." Those fifteen words made me happier than I may have led on. We're so far away from careers, we'll be in school for at least four years, children seem like a mist in the distance, who knows WHERE our jobs will take us. We both trust the Lord to put us where we can better fulfill His purposes, it's nice to know she's warming up to Spokane. I love you Ellie Mae!
Honey Roasted Peanuts.
Beef Jerky.
Peanut M&M's.
Box of Cheez-its.
Jack Johnson En Concert.
One book on cd. (approx. 15 hours long)
This, is how Harwards travel. Ellie and I like to rationalize that calories don't count on road trips. This philosophy has been passed down from Harward to Harward for generations. For years, the most-often heard phrase muttered on family camping trips has been "Isn't it about time to eat something?"
Thank you Mr. President, for President's Day. We love you. Not so much for the fact that you look over the needs of our country, but for a day without school. Ellie and I, needing a desperate escape from approaching mid-terms, spent the three day weekend in Spokane with my family. And what an escape it was! If there's one thing I love about my family, it's the ability to have so much fun, without doing a whole lot of anything.
As an early birthday present, we decided to not tell my mom we were coming. It is so hard to sneak anything past this sharp woman! But conspiring with my dad and sister, we rolled into Spokane Friday around midnight, and snuck downstairs without waking her up. Saturday morning I called her from my cell phone and had a two minute conversation with her before walking upstairs and causing an uproar of screams, laughing and hugs!
Not wanting to spend a lot of money, we kept the day simple and spent it in downtown Spokane. It was blissfully warm, though it couldn't have been over sixty degrees. I am not a huge fan of the bitter Rexburg winters! We had a great time just walking around, Dad went nuts with the camera, like always. Thank goodness for him!
There was something on the edge of serene intoxication about sharing the day with Dad, Mom, Jared, Kimbo, Monty, Kate and Scott (my family) and my beautiful Ellie (my newer family). I imagine this feeling will feel even more eternal when Elle and I have a bun in the oven (far down the road). On my mission I learned for myself, time after time, experience after experience, that family and the Gospel are the only things that matter in life. Everything else vanishes away into perfect insignificance. Through the growing testimonies of the people I taught, I learned the true miracle of the Gospel. I'm just beginning to learn the true miracle of family, having just started my own.
I'm so lucky to happily married to a beautiful, strong woman! Every day I realize how happy she makes me! I think she had a good time. She's made the remark before, that all us Harwards have the same sense of humor, and this trip she commented that we're all starting to rub off on her! I remember my mom telling me how much she wanted Ellie in the family while we were dating. Mothers have an incredible sixth sense to pick out excellent wives for their sons!
My hope for the weekend trip was to just spend time with my family and have a good time, but something happened that I did not expect. Not only did I realize how much I love my family, but I realized how much I'm in love with Spokane. It's tall pines, it's rolling hills covered in trees, it's early Springs, it's old and new of Downtown, the reflection of the sky off the Spokane river, the pavillion and clocktower, the five lakes within a 30-minute drive. It happened to be an accident my family ended up there at all, but how grateful I am to know this place!
At one point, Ellie made the comment, "It wouldn't be the worst thing in the world if we ended up in Spokane." Those fifteen words made me happier than I may have led on. We're so far away from careers, we'll be in school for at least four years, children seem like a mist in the distance, who knows WHERE our jobs will take us. We both trust the Lord to put us where we can better fulfill His purposes, it's nice to know she's warming up to Spokane. I love you Ellie Mae!
Sunday, January 31, 2010
Schruted
It's been a great week.
The Performance Groups I'm involved in on campus are as follows:
Symphony Band
Percussion Ensemble
Campus Drummline
This semester there were only six people up for the Drummline so we're forming a small marhing bass ensemble, or having a small drum circle for the concert in late March. However, yours truly, offered to write a 3-man marching tenor ensemble, and Bro. Taylor went for it! I'm really excited!
Whenever I get nostalgic about past marching years I always cue this up on Youtube:
I'll never forget when I got to see these guys live in Cheney! So, so good. Having missed my window to perform in a drum corp, I'm really looking forward to helping a local high school's drumline out! Maybe this fall, maybe Madison High School. Maybe.
My deciding to write something for the Percussion Ensemble Concert was seriously the high point of my week. Yesterday I spent (no joke) four staight hours getting acquainted with BYUI's marching tenors and writing a little. Why is writing something original so hard to do? It's gonna be amazing though, visually and musically. Actually, I feel more confident in the saying it will be visually amazing, musically.... we'll see. I'm trying to incorporate a lot of different rhythm styles, rudiments and dynamics, but I've never done anything like this before! Not a lot of water to draw out of the well, if you know what I mean. I need a catchy name for it, I may call it "Schruted". (Office reference)
My kid sister just put in her application to BYUI! I have no doubt she'll get in, she's such a bright girl. And she's going to LOVE it here, she better bring a stick to beat all the guys off with! I've been missing my family a lot lately, the last time I saw them was in November for the Open House we had in Spokane. It was a quick two days that didn't last.
Come to think if it, I don't have any pictures of them on here.
My dad. CTU as in "Counter Terrorist Unit" from 24.
My mom, apparently doing a rap for the youth of our ward. Honestly, what mom has the vision and courage to do this?
My big brother Jared, and his wife Kimbo. The game? Cheeto head.
My little sister, Kate. See what I mean about the boy-beating-stick?
Scotty. High on life.
Jared's little boy, my nephew, Monty. I call him the Count of Monty Cristo.
I am positive that everyone says this about their families, but I truly believe we share a bond uncommon to most. When we get together, we always have fun. I miss Sunday nights at home playing board games and holding Monty. I miss sitting out in the hot tub having conversations with my dad. I miss watching movies with Jare. I miss sitting together at church, trying to focus on the speaker and not fall victim to the dizzyingly-cute Montgomery. Without a doubt, my most cherished memories with my family are yearly summer trips to camp at Grand Coulee Dam. THAT is an entire blog's worth of memories. Another blog, another day. I would love, to settle down in Spokane and stay close to them, but with me going after Seminary and teaching music it's a gamble. Spokane is a great place to raise a family. The Church is strong there, the members are great, we experience all four seasons, there's two beautiful lakes within twenty minutes, plenty of places to camp, release-time seminary, a Temple right in the valley, and downtown Spokane is only a half hour away. If I do get into Seminary, the Church could send me to teach anywhere in the Western states. But if I go into Music, if I had my choice I'd finish my Master's at Eastern and teach in the Valley. "If wishes were fishes", right?
The Performance Groups I'm involved in on campus are as follows:
Symphony Band
Percussion Ensemble
Campus Drummline
This semester there were only six people up for the Drummline so we're forming a small marhing bass ensemble, or having a small drum circle for the concert in late March. However, yours truly, offered to write a 3-man marching tenor ensemble, and Bro. Taylor went for it! I'm really excited!
Whenever I get nostalgic about past marching years I always cue this up on Youtube:
I'll never forget when I got to see these guys live in Cheney! So, so good. Having missed my window to perform in a drum corp, I'm really looking forward to helping a local high school's drumline out! Maybe this fall, maybe Madison High School. Maybe.
My deciding to write something for the Percussion Ensemble Concert was seriously the high point of my week. Yesterday I spent (no joke) four staight hours getting acquainted with BYUI's marching tenors and writing a little. Why is writing something original so hard to do? It's gonna be amazing though, visually and musically. Actually, I feel more confident in the saying it will be visually amazing, musically.... we'll see. I'm trying to incorporate a lot of different rhythm styles, rudiments and dynamics, but I've never done anything like this before! Not a lot of water to draw out of the well, if you know what I mean. I need a catchy name for it, I may call it "Schruted". (Office reference)
My kid sister just put in her application to BYUI! I have no doubt she'll get in, she's such a bright girl. And she's going to LOVE it here, she better bring a stick to beat all the guys off with! I've been missing my family a lot lately, the last time I saw them was in November for the Open House we had in Spokane. It was a quick two days that didn't last.
Come to think if it, I don't have any pictures of them on here.
My dad. CTU as in "Counter Terrorist Unit" from 24.
My mom, apparently doing a rap for the youth of our ward. Honestly, what mom has the vision and courage to do this?
My big brother Jared, and his wife Kimbo. The game? Cheeto head.
My little sister, Kate. See what I mean about the boy-beating-stick?
Scotty. High on life.
Jared's little boy, my nephew, Monty. I call him the Count of Monty Cristo.
I am positive that everyone says this about their families, but I truly believe we share a bond uncommon to most. When we get together, we always have fun. I miss Sunday nights at home playing board games and holding Monty. I miss sitting out in the hot tub having conversations with my dad. I miss watching movies with Jare. I miss sitting together at church, trying to focus on the speaker and not fall victim to the dizzyingly-cute Montgomery. Without a doubt, my most cherished memories with my family are yearly summer trips to camp at Grand Coulee Dam. THAT is an entire blog's worth of memories. Another blog, another day. I would love, to settle down in Spokane and stay close to them, but with me going after Seminary and teaching music it's a gamble. Spokane is a great place to raise a family. The Church is strong there, the members are great, we experience all four seasons, there's two beautiful lakes within twenty minutes, plenty of places to camp, release-time seminary, a Temple right in the valley, and downtown Spokane is only a half hour away. If I do get into Seminary, the Church could send me to teach anywhere in the Western states. But if I go into Music, if I had my choice I'd finish my Master's at Eastern and teach in the Valley. "If wishes were fishes", right?
Thursday, January 28, 2010
Annoying
If there's one thing I can't stand, it's people who don't give musicians the credit they deserve. ESPECIALLY when it's coming from someone who is not a musician. Every Tuesday and Thursday, this is my schedule:
8:00 am - Wake up.
9:00 to 10:00 am - Musicianship class.
10:15 to 11:15 am - Music Explorations class.
11:30 to 1:45 pm - Symphony Band practice.
2:00 to 5:00 pm - Percussion ensemble practice.
5:00 to 6:00 pm - Campus Drumline practice.
6:00 to 7:00 pm - Social Dance class.
By the time I walk out of Social Dance, I've been on that freakin' campus for 10 1/2 hours. When do I eat? Well, between the time my Explorations class ends and Symphony Band begins, I'm hauling heavy percussion equipment from the percussion room to the rehearsal room. And then I'm taking down that equipment at 1:45 pm, but I also need to set up equipment for Percussion Ensemble practice in fifteen minutes. So guess what I do? Somewhere in the middle of Symphony Band practice, I excuse myself for a moment to go to the bathroom, I walk out into the hallway, pull a ham sandwich from behind my back and wolf it down in about 45 seconds!
Any Music Major can comprehend the mental and physical toll learning and rehearsing music is. Your brain is dissecting a piece of music's tones, rhythms, harmonies, tempo, phrasing, dynamics, and tambour. And somehow this data has to travel from your brain to your hands instantly. Music Majors can appreciate this, no else can. So the next time you want to criticize an exhausted musician for complaining, don't. You just don't get it.
8:00 am - Wake up.
9:00 to 10:00 am - Musicianship class.
10:15 to 11:15 am - Music Explorations class.
11:30 to 1:45 pm - Symphony Band practice.
2:00 to 5:00 pm - Percussion ensemble practice.
5:00 to 6:00 pm - Campus Drumline practice.
6:00 to 7:00 pm - Social Dance class.
By the time I walk out of Social Dance, I've been on that freakin' campus for 10 1/2 hours. When do I eat? Well, between the time my Explorations class ends and Symphony Band begins, I'm hauling heavy percussion equipment from the percussion room to the rehearsal room. And then I'm taking down that equipment at 1:45 pm, but I also need to set up equipment for Percussion Ensemble practice in fifteen minutes. So guess what I do? Somewhere in the middle of Symphony Band practice, I excuse myself for a moment to go to the bathroom, I walk out into the hallway, pull a ham sandwich from behind my back and wolf it down in about 45 seconds!
Any Music Major can comprehend the mental and physical toll learning and rehearsing music is. Your brain is dissecting a piece of music's tones, rhythms, harmonies, tempo, phrasing, dynamics, and tambour. And somehow this data has to travel from your brain to your hands instantly. Music Majors can appreciate this, no else can. So the next time you want to criticize an exhausted musician for complaining, don't. You just don't get it.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
