All That I Have.
I am a singer/songwriter and a folk musician, which means I am acutely aware of my financial perils at most any time. I do not complain, it is the life that has chosen me. I practice gratitude all the time for my myriad riches far beyond a comfortable bank account - in love, in friendship, in community, in opportunity. I am living a life far beyond anything that Little Kid me could have imagined.
Still, this time of plague brings home to me my privilege and good fortune. I am not being asked to storm the beaches at Normandy or to hold Hamburger Hill, but rather to stay home and protect our vulnerable populations by acting as though I am a carrier. I have my family, we have some work (bless each and every one of my guitar and songwriting students!), there is a roof over our heads and food in the larder, for now the bills are getting paid and the redbud trees are indeed bursting forth in color. We've been extraordinarily fortunate that life necessities like getting a new van and an expensive bit of maintenance on our home water system got done before this happened. We got to have our big album and book release concert for a large and lovely hometown audience not even a month ago.
Despite the economic "inconsistencies" of a creative life, I evaluate my life based on this full portfolio of blessings, luck and human connection. I repeat the famous quote often to my kid, "of those to whom much is given, much is expected."
These times expect a lot from each of us, including a massive shift in perspective. To keep the faith and our covenant with our human community means to stay home and remain physically isolated, and that to do anything else is akin to turning away from that terrible task at Normandy - to leave it to others to clean up the mess, to be "the backup." It is sobering to realize that the number of American lives at stake is far greater now than then. For those of us in the position to stay home, what is expected is to do all that we can to help those who cannot. Those on the front lines of health care and food supply. Those whose entire income depends on our patronage. Those without the economic security to stay home, and to those whose economic lifeline evaporated in a single email or phone call in these past few weeks.
I am indeed grateful for the riches in my life, and keenly aware of all that those blessings demand - and deserve - in return. I will give it my very best. May we all.