Hola amigos..
I have a question.. What is the earliest book/song/film you can remember reading that changed you? Not the first one you remember reading, but the first one that affected you, became part of who you are as an individual??
Mine is a book called The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis. It unlocked a part of my imagination I hadn't accessed before, at least knowingly. I was somewhere around nine or ten years old, and I was changed. I remember reading the Chronicles of Narnia in a few weeks and then, wanting to share the experience, read one chapter to my sisters each night (they were 7 and 5 yrs old then) until we finished all seven books. It took months, but is one of my fondest memories sharing what i loved most with the people i loved most.
I noticed the allegorical nature of the Messiah/Savior theme slightly, but mostly i was enthralled with the world, the lands and myths and above all, Lucy Pevensie. She was brave and open-minded and ready to admit to her mistakes.. all the things I wasn't as a child. She inspired me. I wanted to think that if i'd found a world within a wardrobe, i'd run right in and make friends, but I most likely would have bolted the other way. But the story gave me courage, for example, when i'd go to school and talk to the kids there (i was always anxious in crowds or in school) I'd think of it.
As I grew, I saw that the story was about Redemption, Forgiveness, Faith in spite of Fear, Love.. All of these wonderful and powerful things. And I noticed that those stories were the ones i was most attracted to. I also started to realize those things were what I was writing about.. My own little stories that attached to melodies and harmonies and became our songs.. It flooded my life.
I didn't think about this til recently.. Just pondering away at life and what this all means, and I noticed that pattern. And was just stunned to think that one tiny little story that came from some Oxford professor's mind decades ago, touched my life so profoundly that I've had parts of it trickle down into the real and concrete parts of my life.
Makes me wonder if our songs have been that for anyone.. One can only hope she (or he) can create something or give something to this world that will forever change a soul for the good... I hope that every day. It's why I don't give up. :)
Just some random thoughts from me. I hope you had an inspiring day.
Until soon, Amber
Wednesday, September 1, 2010 at 8:40AM 
