Theme Music

During my morning commute I listen to NPR’s The Take Away. During today’s show Celeste Headlee stated that hiring managers are asking a new interview question. The question is, if you had theme music and walked into a room what would people hear? My initial thought when I heard this question was why would that question be relevant? After some thought, I concluded, while I do not know their reasoning behind the question, while unorthodox, it does make sense to me. I believe how the person answers may provide insight into how they view and feel about themselves. An example would be if a person responds their theme music would be, Pusherman by Curtis Mayfield. I would immediately think I may want to pass on this candidate because he/she my see themselves as a dealer or pimp. Which I would only view as a positive if I were hiring them for a pharmaceutical sales position, I jest. While this is an extreme example it does illustrate how the question can have relevance.

My next thought, what my response would be if the question were ever posed to me. The short answer is I do not know. You see, from my perspective the question asks what one song defines you. The issue is that no one song defines me. I really think that my theme song would change based on the situation. What do I mean you ask? If I walked into work my theme song would be different then if I walked into my home. Quite honestly, my theme music might vary based on the day of the week or time of day. I am after all made up of many layers and each of these layers can be represented by a different song. I am composed of many tempos. Sometimes I am instrumental others acapella or something in between. I have moments where I am Soul, and times where I am Classical but I am always House. There are moments when I am country and yet others where I am Rock and Roll yet always Gospel. So to pick a single song is impossible and would not do me justice. I could only say that I am always music.

I wonder how the hiring manager would analyze that response. Would they think I am being less than truthful? Would they try to back me in a corner and force me to answer? Would my inability to give them an answer disqualify me as a candidate? If you were interviewing me what would you think?

and…

If someone posed this question to you, what would your theme music be?

the Wedding, the Snow Day and the Lesson

Part 1- the Wedding

Yesterday, I arrived home to my always jovial son jumping in my arms asking me how my day was. He then proceeded to tell me in typical Noah fashion, “Dad the wedding is tomorrow. I get to go to the wedding!“ You can imagine my shock and bewilderment. I respond, “What wedding are you talking about Noah?” Nonchalantly Noah states, “You know dad Q and U stick together like glue!” Huh? I am even more puzzled than before. Noah proceeds to tell me that he has an invitation and it is on the fridge. I look at the fridge; low and behold there is an invitation. It states, “Let’s get together for the wedding of Q and U, Wednesday from 12:00-12:30 @ the Lighthouse Village!” Now it all made sense, not! Nicole steps in and explains that as part of a kindergarten phonics lesson they are witnessing the union of Q and U. A light reception will follow. Now it is clear...


Part 2- the Snow Day

I woke early this morning, around 4 a.m. I laid in the bed listening to the radio anxious and excited. You see, today I am hoping that Noah will have his first Snow Day! I listen a little closer every time the newscaster gets to Wayne County and even closer once they hit the letter U! When they finally say, University Prep my heart almost skips a beat. It is Noah’s first Snow Day! I can’t wait to tell him. We all know snow days are what kids live for! To see the look on his face…The appointed hour soon arrives. I lift Noah up and take him to the window, “Dad look at all the snow!” He is excited and I am excited. Now is the time to tell him", I think to myself. “Noah, school is closed today. It is a Snow Day!” Noah’s joy quickly turns to sorrow. “But daddy I want to go to school. I have to go to the wedding!”


Part 3- the Lesson

I looked at my son and initially thought, is he kidding me, really!? Who wants to go to school on a Snow Day? Then it started to sink in...The fact is I wanted this Snow Day for Noah. All Noah wanted was to go to school. Today, I projected my dream on my son, lesson learned. I consider myself blessed because many parents never learn this lesson. They spend their lives trying to make their children live their dreams. As parents we all make this mistake whether it is a snow day, a wedding, a career or a hobby. Yet, I am sure I will do it again. I just hope when I do I remember Noah’s first snow day.


Update-
I am happy to report that even though he cannot go to school Noah is making the best of today as he does everyday.

Unsung

In today’s society the heroes are athletes, actors, singers and the like. What happened to the days when we adored people in our communities? We idolized teachers, business owners, doctors or our parents. We looked up to the garbage man or the landscaper because they worked hard, lead by example and took pride in all they did. Truth be told they still do. So, ask yourself, what has changed? My personal opinion is that hard work and honor have been supplanted by all things perceived glamorous and fast. This is compounded by the breakdown of the American family and my priority the Black family. The images that our youth are bombarded with on television, movies, music and their cell phones are a constant and overwhelming influence. They see their family struggling to make ends meet while it is perceived athletes, actors and singers have it made. The saddest thing is that many of their parents are either too busy working to counter those influences, are not active participants in raising their child(ren) or are feel the same way and reinforce the sentiment. So, honor and hard work are no longer what a hero make…

How can we counter these influences…one child at a time. Tell your child the value of hard work. Teach them to put no one on a pedestal because people in high places fall. If however they are going to aspire to greatness, aspire to be a great person first. Aspire to be that aunt, uncle or cousin who whether their financial means are meager or vast are rich in spirit, kindness, generosity, love and wisdom. These are riches that no one can ever take away. They are what make a hero. Teach them that real heroes serve. They serve their communities, their families and their churches. They do good works because that is who they are, not simply for a tax deduction. As adults we must also share the stories of our heroes. We must point out the heroes in our community. We must show them the diverse nature of those heroes. Real heroes must no longer be unsung!

So, I start today by lifting up and acknowledging three of my heroes, my uncles, Arthur C. Christian, Dr. Harvey M. Day and Michael Christian. These men are great to me! You see, when my parents divorced each of them whether they knew it or not stepped up and stepped in at times in my life that I needed the guidance of a man. Whether it was teaching me how to drive a manual, having me work with them in their garden or simply taking me to a movie, they are there. Yet, even more important is they each led by example. An example that showed me what it is to be a good son, brother, husband and father. Their example showed me what it takes to positively contribute to my community and society. They showed me the value of hard work and sacrifice. They showed me how to give honor and praise to God not simply in words but by deeds. Their example showed me what it takes to be a man. I thank them and I thank God for them!

I have another hero, well in this case a shero, my mother, E. Jean Christian. She is my shero for more reasons than I can list but in this context because she was wise, humble, loving and obedient enough to know that if I was going to grow to be a man I needed to have strong male influences. She knew that while she could raise me to be a good person it takes a good man to make me a man. Her strength and sacrifice define shero!

So, I ask each of you to go to a child that you have influence over and challenge their outside influences. Show them that they do not need to look to the NBA, PGA or even the White House for a hero. If they want to find a hero they need only to go to school, talk to their parents or watch the mail man come down the street. Let the real heroes be unsung no more!

Be blessed and be a blessing.

Inspiration

dictionary.com defines inspiration as, "a divine influence directly and immediately exerted upon the mind or soul."

As I embark upon this journey, this exploration, this experiment I am already asking myself how I will stay inspired to write and post something relevant and interesting each day. You see, I struggle with consistency when it comes to all things creative. I write in spurts, shoot photos in spurts and I DJ in spurts. It has been a year since I recorded a mix CD, 2 months since I shot and quite some time since I wrote a stanza of prose. Yes, I know that is sad but I am not being lazy. It is just my creative process. I have tried to analyze this and concluded the creative side of me gets buried in the daily grind. Yet, over time it builds and builds like steam in a pressure cooker until God says, son it’s time for you to release that pressure. Before I know it I write, shoot or mix until the steam stops flowing...So, now my God has directed me to blog. Which means the pressure will be released a little at a time instead of all at once. Since He directed me to this form of expression I know he will help me along the way but honestly this whole thing is scary. It is scary to put myself out here where the whole world can see. It is scary to change, yet to be successful with this experiment I must change. The creative process that I have come to love must change. And my discipline must change. To be frank change can be terrifying. So, I will do as I always do; I will listen; I will pray; I will trust. Simply put, I will stand on my faith. I will have faith that He will direct my thoughts and order my steps. This is a journey after all…

Lets go on ahead and see what the end will bring…

“Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”
Hebrew 11:1 KJV

and so it begins...

Today, I rose early, the house so quiet her silence was almost deafening. I sat in front of my computer as I do every morning. I skimmed the news, checked in on the alternate reality also known as Facebook and ended up reading a post from someone’s blog. I had no idea what the next hour would bring…

You see, while I am a true nerd, a huge fan of technology, I am notoriously skeptical and resistant to it in many forms, especially social media. While I know it self righteous of me, the whole seen so oft feels self indulging even narcissistic. Yet, I understand that in many ways Facebook, Blogspot, Twitter and the like are nothing more than journaling without the lock. I also know that it provides many talented people who would otherwise have no way to share their gift from God an outlet. So, I indulge myself as well but I do not over indulge.

I have been told many times, by many people over the past year (or two) that they think I have something to share and I should blog. I just told you me feelings on that. So, I resisted but did I? The truth is I am an active Facebook member. I post status updates regularly but not daily. Surprisingly, the feedback has been positive. I told myself this is not blogging. While technically true, in reality it is “blogging lite”. I am a walking, talking, blogging contradiction but I digress.

Where was I? Ah yes, “I had no idea what the next hour would bring.”

Here I sit reading someone’s blog and I find myself clicking that white “B” in the orange block. You know the one. I then follow those simple steps and BAM, I now have blog! Once I see the words that state I have created my blog I am directed to the “New Post” page. I’m still in denial so I go to “Settings”, then “Layout” and finally, “Monetize”. Unable to accept that any company would ever want to sell their products on my blog I end up where I started, “New Post”, d@mn!

The questions are now unavoidable; does this make me a narcissist, will anyone read what I write and why do I care? Then there is the big one, “What will I say?” So, I simply do as always, I just start typing.

“and so it begins…”