This won’t be long because I really do need to go to bed. But I’ve been thinking about music a lot this weekend and thought I’d share some of those thoughts here.
Yesterday I had my first road trip. I somehow convinced my parents to let me drive three and a half hours away less than a full month after getting my driver’s license. My friend, Sarah, joined me. That and my lovely age of 19 1/2 probably had something to do with the permission that was granted. Anyway, my car has sync capabilities, so I plugged my i-pod in and we set off.
Since I’ve been driving more, I’ve been singing more. To me there’s just something about being alone in a car and singing. Having Sarah in the car with me was a bit interesting at first… I don’t really sing around people. Actually, there are probably very few who have ever really heard me sing. That one area that I’ve never gotten over my shyness in. So the way to Lafayette, Indiana was filled with music and me mouthing or mumbling the words as I drove.
Then we hit Lafayette and were able to see Jared Camp and Shawn McDonald play live. Jared has some great songs that were soothing to listen to. His voice is one that you can soak up with a cup of hot chocolate and feel connected, like a part of a community. (And that’s what I did… the show was in a coffee shop called Sacred Grounds.) Shawn came on after Jared and he was phenomenal live. I’ve listened to his music since he first came on the scene (back in 2004?!). His songs are full of everything. What I mean by that is he has songs for when you’re happy, songs for when you’re unsure, songs for when you’re in love, songs for when you’re desperate for God, and songs for when you just want to sing. Singing along to such soul-stirring music and hearing the violinist play alongside a single acoustic guitar was incredible.
On the way to my aunt’s house from the concert, I sang with Sarah. We bounced around from The Afters to Jars of Clay to Eisley to Stacie Orrico to the Backstreet Boys to Bethany Dillon. And it was wonderful. It was fun. At times it was moving. But it made me feel connected… to Sarah, as a friend, and to God as we drove underneath a bright moon among Indiana cornfields.
Today I drove Sarah and I back to Kentucky. My i-pod was plugged in the entire trip. Again, I sang. It was harder for me to do it in the light… I think it’s having people able to see me that trips me up. But I let myself sing anyway. There’s a therapeutic notion to singing, I think. And discovering that in such a real way this weekend has been wonderful.
Tomorrow night I will be seeing Eisley play in Covington. I’m really excited to hear music that’s so inspirational to me. I was told just today that I’m one of the most concert-going people that my aunt Emily knows. I take that as a compliment. There’s just something about music… and I want to experience as much music as I can in my life.
Feel free to leave me your thoughts on music, singing, etc. And if you feel so inclined, leave me a musician or two to look into.
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