So there I was standing in the basement (not a pretty place) trying to clear a backed-up sewer drain. I had worked on it the night before with no luck and then spent most of the next morning working on it some more. I was able to unclog it that morning but it drained slowly so I checked it again at night and was dismayed to see it was clogged again.
Let me be clear. I am not a mechanical kind of guy. As a matter of fact it should be illegal for me to even own tools. So as I go through the motions of doing these things I have the same attitude that I did when I was a teenager. Not very positive or cheerful. You can actually hear me frown.
Eventually I surrendered to the situation and called in the professionals. The guy came, made short work of it, and everyone was happy. But it made me think about how we all have a job to do in the world and if we do our jobs right we are able to improve life for others around us.
As a young musician I had a narrow vision of what my job was. Play in a club either as a soloist or as a member of a group and entertain the patrons. A lucky few might catch a break and hit the big time, but you can't count on that no matter how good you might be. I honestly didn't see any other options for a guitarist like myself. But playing in clubs never worked out for me.
As a teacher I felt more confident and I seemed to be pretty successful. So I focused on that. But teaching in a music store I worked with musicians who gigged regularly and conversations with them always left me feeling uneasy. Like I didn't belong. I had the same feeling teaching at colleges. My colleagues were teaching bands or choirs, were tenured with salaries much larger than mine, and many had published books.
Eventually I got over it. I realize now that my musical contributions have been significant to many individuals over the years. Instead of playing in clubs I play at weddings, funerals, and other private events. I also play in church nearly every Sunday morning. As a teacher I've touched the lives of thousands......one at a time. Even my meager talents as a composer have contributed.
I had never realized as a kid how important music is to quality of life. We worship with music. Mothers hum lullabies to their babies. We're married and buried with music. And, or course, what would camping be without campfire songs? In short, we celebrate life, with all it's peculiarities, with music.
Far from being a frivolous pursuit, music is essential. So please support local music. In clubs, houses of worship, and public schools. To paraphrase an old slogan, "The life you enhance may be your own".