Ageless Words to a New Tune

In recent years, one of my favorite things has become sitting at a piano with a book of old songs with amazing words and singing a new tune to the lyrics (since my fingers aren’t trained to play most music as it’s written   )  I recently got to do this at Jono’s as he let me use their house and piano when they were out of town. 

Here’s the result:     Awake, Arise, Lift Up Your Voice (click on title to hear)

(words by Christopher Smart 1722-1771)

Awake, arise, lift up your voice,
let Easter music swell;
rejoice in Christ, again rejoice
and on his praises dwell.

Oh, with what gladness and surprise
the saints their Savior greet;
nor will they trust their ears and eyes
but by his hands and feet,

those hands of liberal love indeed
in infinite degree,
those feet still free to move and bleed
for millions and for me.

His enemies had sealed the stone
as Pilate gave them leave,
lest dead and friendless and alone
he should their skill deceive.

O Dead arise! O Friendless stand
by seraphim adored!
O Solitude again command
your host from heaven restored!

The Last Six Months

As I sit in Portland, Oregon here on an early Tuesday morning, unable to sleep being too scared that I won’t wake up for my airport Taxi that is coming at 5 AM.. breath.. I can’t help but be thankful for the past six months.  

In the spring of this year, I was in a job that I loathed.  But even worse, in my soul, I was in a state of anger.  It wasn’t incessant.  But it was bad.

I thank God for the friends that helped to awaken me to the fact that it was alright to say.. “this is not right” and “something needs to be done.”  Isn’t it amazing how we can put our anger on the back burner?  How we can ignore it because there are responsibilities that are more important and require our attention more than what makes us pissy?  How true this is of so many things in our lives.  

I thank God for the friends that helped to push me towards peace, love, and healing.  And, indeed, that is what has been happening these past six months.  I went to Argentina and spent time with family and friends.  Playing, eating healthy (-er than I was previously — I have a terrible diet), taking naps, walks, watching The Office, etc.  I felt the push from God to explore the questions: “what am I here for?  what am i here on this earth to do?  what did you make me for?  what are my gifts and how do you want me to use them?  how do you want me to be?”  

After Argentina, I was given an opportunity to live with my friend Jason everydayj.com in Austin, Texas.  I slept in his recording studio where I had countless hours to experiment with recording and songwriting and do all of the other aforementioned things.  I remember being at an outdoor coffee bar during one of my first weeks there, looking around, seeing artsy people everywhere–not people in suits–which gave me a tangible vision of how I seemed to fit more there.  I remember first telling people my story in Austin and expecting them to look at me like I was some kind of fool.. “you quit your job and are doing what exactly?  You don’t even know what you’re doing?”  Instead, they reacted with genuine excitement when they heard me say “I quit my job in June and I’m trying to figure out what I’m doing with my life, how I want to be as a person, and am experimenting with songwriting/recording.”  I went to Austin saying that I would be experimenting with songwriting.  Through people’s reactions and through realizing that I loved the process of writing and recording so much that I didn’t care what people thought, I left Austin with the confidence to remove the word “experimenting” from my previous introduction.  

So after three great months in Texas, I left for the full Oregon air to be withmy buddy Jon-Paul who’s also at a crossroads.  We’ve been facing more logistical challenges in our time here.  But its amazing to see, through the joys and frustrations, how we grow as friends.  And I really believe that we can grow or wither in all of our circumstances.  I pray that I might be one who helps my friends and even strangers to grow.  I’m not naive to think that everyone will do that for me.  But I also know that it is essential to immerse myself in friendships with those who want to see me grow.   

I thank God for these past six months.  For the friends and their gifts of love and grace and sacrifice.  For the experiences.  And for the freedom to have built up a little bit of savings that would allow me this time to slow down and begin to concentrate on what is important.

What are you thinking?

This Site is Here For Nate to be Able to Share His Music

Simply click on the tabs under “FreeRefills” to access the music.  If you’re looking for the most recent/more quality stuff that I’ve done, click on the “Songs in Austin” tab.  ”DC Baby” houses the songs that I recorded while living in DC.  And “The Journal Songs” contains a couple of somewhat off the cuff songs that I did in DC.  

Please offer up any comments or opinions you have of my music or any of the stuff I say.. even if you disagree or have a question.  I’m always up for a good conversation.  

Thanks for listening!

November (Song)

http://freerefills.files.wordpress.com/2008/11/november.mp3

Oh November, I didn’t want you to arrive.  The cold air settles.  And the darkened evening skies.

And I’m alone and the sun has left my sight.  In the bitter cold, I walk angry through the night.

Fall is meant for falling to the ground.  But all we’re meant for through death only is found.  

In desperation, in the death of our sin we find that we are given a brand new holy life.  

Oh November, I didn’t want you to arrive.  The cold air settled.  And it went and changed my life.