Music and my bro
I'm not sure he knows it, but my brother's had a really profound influence on my life. Growing up, and sometimes even now depending on what the subject is, i'd determine the truth of my mom's opinion based on the look on his face, his reaction or by what he said.
I'm not sure why that is really; probably some subconcious, inground belief that someone who's older than you, but not that much older, and still within the bounds of your generation and therefore somewhat cool even though you know he's actually not, must necessarily be more right than the primeval generation.
Anyway before he left, he got into this whole "even music without Your presence is nothing" deal. I remember kinda scoffing at it just a little, being incredulous that 1)you can actually sense/feel God's presence in the (highlight:) recorded music you listen to and 2)you'd actually prefer to listen to overtly christian music rather than just normal, secular music. I scoffed indeed.
Until recently. About a week ago, it hit me that actually, his whole life up to the point of his revelation had been built around music. For those who don't know, he's pretty damn well good at the piano. He used to spend hours on the piano. He could play anything really. Final Fantasy music, the Phantom of the Opera, Star Wars, Harry Potter, whatever. And not just play, play. Till there was a crowd. Till everyone stared in wonder.
The music he listened to had to be of the highest standard, so he'd only be content with Dream Theatre. Jordan Rudess. Random Japanese music. Martha Argerich. John Williams. Rachmaninoff. Etc. Fair enough he had some uniquely Oz-style obsessions (Sisqo and Destiny's Child and Mmbop and Mandy Moore though not for the music really), and probably still does, but generally he's always been really selective about what he listens to.
So for him to say that "even music without Your presence is nothing" - something that hardcore and concrete - it must really have underscored, for him, something just a little short of an epiphany leading to a subsequent change in his life. I never fully realized that he'd changed the way he thought about music to quite a large extent, even if it had been a gradual change. Rather than for the purpose of glorifying the self (though he's still a show-off sometimes and he knows it), music is for pointing towards and worshipping God. That's a hardcore change in thought right there. And it made me think.
Yeh so i miss my bro. I guess. Nah i do really. My parents are annoyed that he's not phoning home though. And don't understand when i say i've been in touch with him, through the Internet kinda but not through email, just a few times personally, and no he's not dead but i'm not psychic either.
Out of curiousity... Who are the people that shape you most in your life (whether you know them personally or not)?
Meheheh. Came across it when i was trying to recall the name of that film some people get teary on.
I'm not sure why that is really; probably some subconcious, inground belief that someone who's older than you, but not that much older, and still within the bounds of your generation and therefore somewhat cool even though you know he's actually not, must necessarily be more right than the primeval generation.
Anyway before he left, he got into this whole "even music without Your presence is nothing" deal. I remember kinda scoffing at it just a little, being incredulous that 1)you can actually sense/feel God's presence in the (highlight:) recorded music you listen to and 2)you'd actually prefer to listen to overtly christian music rather than just normal, secular music. I scoffed indeed.
Until recently. About a week ago, it hit me that actually, his whole life up to the point of his revelation had been built around music. For those who don't know, he's pretty damn well good at the piano. He used to spend hours on the piano. He could play anything really. Final Fantasy music, the Phantom of the Opera, Star Wars, Harry Potter, whatever. And not just play, play. Till there was a crowd. Till everyone stared in wonder.
The music he listened to had to be of the highest standard, so he'd only be content with Dream Theatre. Jordan Rudess. Random Japanese music. Martha Argerich. John Williams. Rachmaninoff. Etc. Fair enough he had some uniquely Oz-style obsessions (Sisqo and Destiny's Child and Mmbop and Mandy Moore though not for the music really), and probably still does, but generally he's always been really selective about what he listens to.
So for him to say that "even music without Your presence is nothing" - something that hardcore and concrete - it must really have underscored, for him, something just a little short of an epiphany leading to a subsequent change in his life. I never fully realized that he'd changed the way he thought about music to quite a large extent, even if it had been a gradual change. Rather than for the purpose of glorifying the self (though he's still a show-off sometimes and he knows it), music is for pointing towards and worshipping God. That's a hardcore change in thought right there. And it made me think.
Yeh so i miss my bro. I guess. Nah i do really. My parents are annoyed that he's not phoning home though. And don't understand when i say i've been in touch with him, through the Internet kinda but not through email, just a few times personally, and no he's not dead but i'm not psychic either.
Out of curiousity... Who are the people that shape you most in your life (whether you know them personally or not)?
Meheheh. Came across it when i was trying to recall the name of that film some people get teary on.