Foundation. Roots within Eternity. Endurance. Active Force.
Since I've brought my parents into this, I'll return to them for another moment. Needless to say, they are a major keystone of my structural Foundation. I happened to have hit the jackpot in the parent lottery. Not only did they give and share with me the gift of music, they are generally upstanding people - seriously great role models.
As I have mentioned in past posts, I also love to think of those to whom I provide Foundation. One sweetness in my life is that my daughter is becoming a very beautiful violinist. Now, while I will admit to some possibility that the fact that I am a violinist may have some bearing on her "choice" of instrument, I don't think that's remotely the whole story. I write "choice" in that way because, in my experience, we don't choose our instruments. Rather, they choose us. I've seen it again and again, both in myself and in others. As noted yesterday, neither of my parents plays the violin. In any case, the whole thing just appears in my mind as a beautiful chain of Enduring shared love and passion, truly l'dor vador (from generation to generation).
It is not only the music that we share, but I also try to pass along to my daughter some of the beautiful ways of walking through life that I've learned (and continue to learn) from my beloved parents. Like I said, jackpot.
On another note, a story of remembering what it means that my true Foundation is in the Enduring Eternal. I am on tour right now with a band of outstanding rock musicians. We are introducing to the world the brilliant music of my dear friend Dominic Kelly as he makes his solo debut. (Check out Everything is Just Enough on iTunes!) Now, I'm a child of the 80s and grew up listening to all sorts of rock music. A big part of my heart wanted to go that route, but I've enjoyed a wonderful life as a classical musician and now, as a sprouting Hazzan. Recently, however, it seems I've been granted a lingering wish and am entering a new musical world.
We had our second show last night, in a series of four. Things went a little pear-shaped, logistically, and I started down a stress spiral. At some point, I was finally brought back to my senses and remembered to take a dip into the Well, the Source of All Blessing. I started to relax. The show went great.
This morning in my meditation, it came to me that part of the reason I was getting stressed was that I was trying to be a rocker. The thing is, I already am - that is part of me, anyway. What I really am, though, is an instrument of the Divine. Sometimes I am used to lead prayer in a synagogue, sometimes I am used to facilitate spiritual adventures in a rock show. As this came in deeply, I felt a great peace and joy come through me. I had, once again, become Rooted in my Enduring Source.
May you be blessed today with Roots in your Enduring passions and values. May your Foundations in the Enduring Eternal hold you up and bring you joy and peace.