Why "Naming the Muse?"

I believe all creativity comes from God.  The first three points of my thesis state:

-God creates

-We are made in God’s image

-We have the God-given need and capacity to create

Even our friends who create and don't acknowledge God receive their expressive drive from Him.  Often they refer to "finding their muse."  One of the definitions found in dictionaries is a woman, or a force personified as a woman, who is the source of inspiration for a creative artist. I feel the creative muse is God.  Hopefully my study will provide opportunities to discuss this with creatives who are still chasing their muse.

Knowing the Standards, Improvisation, Creativity, & Freedom

The second day of class was pretty amazing.   Bill Edgar walked us through the development of jazz with its origins in slavery.  We watched some great video clips (yeah YouTube!) and Bill played examples on the piano. Bill was then joined by Rob Des Cotes, a local pastor and a jazz flute player.  For some information on songs he has written go to http://freepraiseandworship.org/new/artists/380.htm  Rob invited Mark, a local bass player to be part of the trio for class.  This was Bill's first meeting with Rob & Mark.  Rob asked Bill what he wanted to play and off they went.  Incredible!!  These three jazz players wove in and out of the music like they grew up together.

So here is the main point of this class:  Our spiritual journey can be very much like jazz.  

In jazz there is the need to know the standards, know your instrument, and know music theory.  Now, with this musical maturity you confidently take your voice into community and trust each other to improvise an amazing experience. 

In our spiritual journey we need to know God's standards, know ourselves, and know how life works.  As a mature follower of Jesus we can now bring our individual talents into community and really cook.

Although Bill, Rob, and Mark sounded great, there was something else yesterday that really hammered this idea.  Micah, a young 15-year-old boy is attending our class with his father.  This is a pastoral family from Ohio.  After the trio played two songs they asked if Micah would like to fill in for Bill.  Rob asked Micah if he knew Billy's Bounce.  He did and Rob said, "Ok.  In F.  One, two, three, four."  We were treated to four minutes of some awesome jazz while the three 'traded fours.'  I recorded this and will get it online as soon as I figure out how to do it.

So how can this happen?  How can a 60-year-old flute player and 50-something bass player from Vancouver play this great music with a 15-year-old from Ohio?  They know the standards, they know their instruments, they know theory and they trusted each other enough to bring their individuality into community.  They improvised.

Keep groovin'