Jazz, Hymns, and Patsy Cline

I love to listen to music. My favorite app to use is Pandora. I set up stations on Pandora off and on for the past few years. And one thing I've noticed is that I have very eclectic tastes in music.

I have stations for classical music and easy listening jazz. I have a Patsy Cline station and old-time gospel. I have Canadian Brass and Zydeco stations as well as several contemporary Christian stations. And, of course, soundtracks and other instrumentals. Apparently I have a musical multiple personality.

Sometimes I'm in the mood for a particular type of music. Sometimes I need "no words" for less distraction. Sometimes percussion just fits my mood.

Today I put Pandora on shuffle. It will shuffle through the stations I have chosen from selection to selection. I turned off the Christmas stations (yes I have several) but let all the others stay in the shuffle. So I jump from a Trumpet Concerto to Benny Goodman to a choir singing "Holy Ground" to E.T. movie soundtrack. Of course, I can forward to something else if something comes on that I don't want to hear. But I like the unpredictability and surprise with the different genres butting up against one another.

While there is joy in music itself for me, I have been enjoying the unexpected. So often in my life I want to avoid the unexpected. I want things to be more predictable and more controllable. But the music today is helping me think about how much life is more enjoyable when I embrace surprise and a little chaos. After all, life seems more chaotic than controllable.

And I can discover some similarities between Patsy Cline and Mandisa.

Today's Joy: Multiple genres of music with surprising connections

Standing in Line

Today I had to go renew my drivers license. Yes, I waited until the last few days before my license expires to go, so I had to stay there no matter what today. Cindy went with me since hers is also expiring in a few weeks. (She's always ahead, I guess.)

We went right after I finished with the 2s and 4s in music today. Now we only have a couple of locations where you can get this done. Last time I renewed online (my favorite way). but this time I had to get a new picture. They must have seen how much I've changed on Facebook.

And, of course when we got there, we encountered a line. It was a line to talk to the first desk...then you had to go sit in chairs to talk to another desk. So we began our wait. Overall the wait was pleasant. I heard people behind me talking about the solution to all our immigration problems. ("Just buy Mexico!") No one was happy about the wait but they didn't act unhappy either. The ones who did seem to be unhappy just left...so that was good.

Did I find joy in the waiting line? Well, I don't remember being joyful at the time. And I don't remember making a conscious decision to avoid being unjoyful. But I remember thinking that there was a line and we had to get it done and the line was moving mostly at a steady pace. I didn't need to be anywhere else at a particular time. And things were good.

Every employee we encountered was very nice and helpful. Even if they didn't seem to be in much of a hurry...but that is just my assessment I'm sure.

As I look back on it, it does seem a little enjoyable in retrospect. We found the location without much trouble. It quit raining when we went in and out - so we didn't get wet. My license is renewed for another 7 years (and the next time I think I can renew online). What could have been stressful and frustrating wasn't. I think that rates as joy.

Today's Joy: Getting something done without frustration and stress

Stripes and Dots

A while ago - it seems like a long time now - I wore ties almost every day. Because of that, I collected a variety of them. I had ties with handprints and children's designs. I had ties for holidays and with beach scenes. I had more formal ties for those occasions but most of my ties were a little whimsical or silly. If you need to wear a tie, might as well have fun with it.

Now I rarely wear a tie. And when I do, it usually needs to be a more serious formal tie for a more serious formal situation.

So, a few months ago I decided I needed some more fun and whimsy again. I told Cindy I wanted to get some crazy socks. That way, no matter what I was doing or where I was going, I could have a little fun with me (even if no one else ever saw it). So she bought me a few socks with stripes and dots and triangles and primary colored squares.

Today I slid on my striped socks and just knew it was going to be a fun day. I thought about the striped socks as I moved with 2s and sang with 4s. I showed no one my socks (sometimes the kids ask to see them) but I still got joy just from wearing them. I have a good collection now - and all of them have come from Cindy. (That adds to the joy, too.)

Who knew that socks with stripes or dots could give you such a spring to your step?

Today's Joy: Crazy socks that no one may ever see

Driving Mrs Cindy

Cindy had to go into the office today. She made a comment that I don't trust her to drive so I drive her everywhere now. Well, I do trust her. It's all those other drivers on the road that I don't trust!

Well, the fact is that I enjoy driving Cindy all around. I like taking her places. I like the time we get to spend together. I enjoy talking. And now, since her illness, the radio stays off - it can be distracting for her and difficult for her to hear me (important!). So the only time I have the radio on is when I'm in the car alone.

I've made the observation before that we spend a lot of time together now. We are with one another almost 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. And while that sounds like trouble, it really isn't. One of the joys that has grown for me is spending time with Cindy...and car time, drive time is some of our quality time. We have some great discussions and some quiet rides through the countryside.

A day can be joyful with someone at your side.

Today's Joy: Being chauffeur to my wife

Something Sort of New

Today I had a new experience. Well, it was sort of new. I led the music elective for a home school co-op at our church. I've already been leading music for preschoolers for a couple of months. But this is a different organization and a different age group - younger elementary kids.

I like new things. Well, I like the idea of new things. I was excited when asked to do this - back in August. The idea was really cool to me. But as the time approached, I began to get nervous. Could I do something that would engage K-2 kids for an hour? What did I know about music anyway? Could I pull this off with another adult, someone I didn't know, in the room with me?

Well, this afternoon I met a group of seven boys and girls in the classroom and we had music time. It was fun. I enjoyed it. I'm pretty sure they enjoyed it, too. And I'm discovering that I'm okay at this music thing.

Os I like the idea of new things. I like when new things are over and go fairly well. It's the in-between anxiety that doesn't do much for me.

So I think I'll push that anxiety on into the next new thing, now. Don't know what that is, but I look forward to seeing the joy in it.

Today's Joy: Jumping into something new - and liking it

Joyful Worship

Each Sunday I have opportunity to worship with my church family. We sing; we pray; we listen; we learn; we read Scripture. When my worship is "right," it brings great joy. When it is not, it is just noise or filling time.

What makes the worship "right"? Me. Or rather what's going on inside of me. Are the songs and music and Scriptures focused on God? Am I looking for a personal boost, something I can gain from worship? Successful worship, "right" worship, true worship is for God's glory, not for me.

Do I learn and grow in worship? I should. But that should be a by-product of giving praise and worth-ship to God. If my attitude is on what I can get out of church time, then I've missed the whole point. But too many times that's where my focus is. What did I get out of it? Did the music speak to me? Did the Bible teaching help me? Me, me, me.

As I have been looking for joy, I am finding that what blocks joy more than anything is me - pride gets in the way. "I'm not getting anything out of this." (What did I put into it?) "It didn't speak to me." (How was I listening? To what was I listening?)

Come, let us worship and bow down; let us kneel before the LORD our Maker. For He is our God, and we are the people of His pasture, the sheep under His care. (Psalm 95:6-7)

Today's Joy: Worship that focuses on God

Muffins and Coffee

This morning when I got up, Cindy had made muffins (from scratch) and coffee for breakfast. Cindy is a great cook. She cooks dinner every day. (Well, almost every day. We do eat out occasionally.) Usually breakfast is a "fend for yourself" meal - which is fine with me. But sometimes she makes muffins or egg sandwiches or something similar. I always enjoy what she cooks for me.

I feel extra joy when she makes coffee for me. She doesn't drink it. So when she makes it, I know she's done it just for me. That makes it more special.

Now she's been doing these things during all of our marriage. And I've always appreciated it and enjoyed it. But today, as I think back to a year ago, I feel even more joy. One year ago, she was home from the hospital only a month or so. She did no cooking - not because she didn't want to but because she couldn't. Walking...standing...was an effort. So she got to eat my cooking.

Today she still moves slower than before. She still needs to take a rest after standing in the kitchen for a while. But oh, how joyful those muffins and coffee tasted this morning. She made them for me. And she was able to make them for me.

Today's Joy: Homemade muffins and coffee for breakfast