I saw this on facebook today- if you haven’t seen it it’s worth 2 minutes of your time!
Category: Quote
Faith and Music
Today I found an interview which was posted online in 2010 by mormonartist.net and highlighted the musical career of Crawford Gates (my Grandfather). There was one quote that was particularly moving to me and I wanted to share it here. Grandad was an extremely talented musician, but even more than that, he was a man of faith. This quote shows how completely he “let go” and allowed God to work through him.
As a composer, with all eight hundred and seventy-four pieces, I had two prayers. I have an “empty-page prayer.” I look at the page, and I’ve got to fill it with beautiful music. Where is that going to come from? I don’t have beautiful music within me. It’s got to come from the Lord, but he is going to give it to me. So the empty-page prayer is a prayer of supplication: “Help me do something beautiful for this need.” And that was certainly true with Promised Valley, that was certainly true with the Hill Cumorah Pageant, and that was certainly true with Joseph! Joseph!.
Then there’s the second prayer: I got a page. The Lord has given it to me. I get on my knees next to my piano or next to my desk. “Thank you for this beautiful music. Thank you, Heavenly Father.”
Two prayers: “empty page,” “full page.” It’s been that way all my life. And it may not be just one prayer, or two prayers; it’s a week of prayers, or a month of prayers.
Have a great weekend, friends!
Love,
Laura
The Breeze
This morning I started my day with Adriene (are you familiar with Yoga with Adriene?). She is currently doing a free 30 days of yoga program entitled “Dedicate.” At the end of the session today, she shared this quote. I loved it and wanted to share:
“The breeze of grace is always blowing. Set your sail to catch that breeze.”
~Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa
So good!
Have a great day, friends!
~Laura
PS- If you’re interested in joining “Dedicate” here is the website: https://yogawithadriene.com/dedicate-a-30-day-yoga-journey/
You are a Child of God
Today I’m working on sorting through my digital clutter. I’m making progress! I love the feeling of cleaning out and getting rid of things I don’t need- especially at the beginning of a fresh, new year. As I was looking through files in my google drive, I came across this beautiful piece of writing again and reading it was an enjoyable break. Maybe you’ll enjoy it too!
~Laura
Our Deepest Fear
By Marianne Williamson
Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate.
Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.
It is our light, not our darkness
That most frightens us.
We ask ourselves
Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous?
Actually, who are you not to be?
You are a child of God.
Your playing small
Does not serve the world.
There’s nothing enlightened about shrinking
So that other people won’t feel insecure around you.
We are all meant to shine,
As children do.
We were born to make manifest
The glory of God that is within us.
It’s not just in some of us;
It’s in everyone.
And as we let our own light shine,
We unconsciously give other people permission to do the same.
As we’re liberated from our own fear,
Our presence automatically liberates others.
One Ring to Rule Them All
Another composer hero of mine is Howard Shore. I am completely in awe with the music of “The Lord of the Rings” (he is the masterful composer that wrote the score). I was watching an interesting spotlight on him this week and I thought this quote was especially worth writing down:
“Most of everything I write is a learning process. I want to try something, express some idea…There’s not a real comfortable nature to it. There has to be some struggle, I think, to create something of value, so there’s always that searching inwards. As difficult as it is, it’s a wonderful journey.”
Knowing that the process is challenging even for the brilliant composers makes me feel like I’m on the right track when things are tough!
Also- doesn’t it make you want to go back and watch Froto? Here’s a youtube clip I just pulled up: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pjAAC13al9s
~Laura
MELODIES OF LIGHT 