We are Making Music

Bottom line? Today was the best Sunday. It could not have been better. Let me tell you why!
This past week was not the brightest for me. In fact, it was quite horrible. It's hard to explain why or what made it so, but everyone has their good days and weeks and their bad ones; This past week was a bad one for me. A sinker. It wasn't the way I wanted to start my school year but in life, unexpected things get thrown our way regardless if we're ready to face them or not. And for me, that's exactly what happened: a series of events I didn't expect knocked me down morally and a little emotionally. On top of that, I didn't see any hope for things to get any better for the next first full week of classes.


It was a challenge. I was challenged spiritually, mentally, physically, and emotionally. Everyone, regardless of background, history, or current stature gets challenged. From the poorest and uneducated to the richest, most successful, and brightest minds.Everyone gets challenged in life.
With that said, today concluded my church's special two-day International Weekend with an International food festival with cultural foods from many different countries. Just yesterday, I was asked to get my music group together to perform as part of the entertainment line up for the food festival. Don't take this in a wrong, arrogant way, but I truly am fortunate and blessed to work with such a musically talented youth music group where music comes naturally. Practice is rare for each of our individual talents are quite superior. The only thing we accomplish in the very few practices wedo have is the thing every group accomplishes when they practice: to organize and put all of the talent together to perform as a group.


So we performed. The other main performance group was The Gato Band, an adult  jazz/soft rock band. By the end of the night, my band received comments we never get. Rather than the festival coordinators giving an end of the night greeting of simply a "Thank You," many complimented on our maturity in musicianship. People noticed and acknowledged that our music has matured and is "older people" friendly now.


Rather than people in the church looking at our music as 'loud, rock music,' they enjoyed our music and liked our style of play.


And I agree. Looking back from when I first started the band at my church, we were new to having "a band" and just played in a 'whatever' way. We were young, new musicians. We were just kids! Now, many of the musicians in our church praise band and in my own personal music group are getting a little older and more mature and it therefore is starting to show in our music.


Now, we are making music not noise.


I'm proud of my band. This includes those that have been in previous generations of the praise band I lead and those musicians I call up to perform with me during personal outside music gigs. We have matured mentally and it shows in our music. Although we're still growing, it's extremely awesome to receive such positive feedback about our music. I mean, music right now is exactly what I want it to be in my life. It's not my main pursuit or career choice. It's a side hobby I love doing that doesn't take too much of my time but the little time spent in it is much appreciated by me as well as others. That's all I want, to share my talent and the talent of my group with others. What good is talent if it's not shared or used? The answer is that it isn't good.
So, today was an encouraging day. An uplifting one. Something I definitely needed going into this coming week. And to receive praise from The Gato band and other great musicians in attendance? Amazing!


I'm also excited for for my upcoming mission project, there are about 5 other youth members in my youth group interested in going with me. Usually, I'm the only one from my church that goes so to see that other youth are joining me is exciting! Since I have more experience in fundraising for the Ultimate Workout Teen Mission trip (byMaranatha Volunteers Int'l), I'm heading the fundraising campaign to fundraise for my group going. I'll explain a whole lot more about this in another post but the bottom line is that I am excited that other youth are interested in giving an international mission trip-another thing I'm passionate about- a try.


Good day. Looking forward to this week!


To God be the Glory and many Blessings to you all,


AaronNak
www.aaronnakamura.com