Sometimes I wonder how I even got here.
Do you ever have those moments where you just stop and think that? It’s interesting to recall events and situations that moulded you into the person you are today – and sometimes the journey is quite surprising.
Because I’m so involved with music in my church, I often get people coming up to me, especially young people, and say: “Man, I wish I could do what you do.”
I remember being exactly like that myself – wishing I was good at something; hoping one day I’d be able to contribute in that way.
You see, everybody wants the “story” – but not all of us want the journey.
My personal journey looks like this: I went to a music college in Sydney, Australia, which sounds amazing – but to be honest it was the hardest three years of my life. Weeks and months went by, but I couldn’t make a breakthrough: no one was choosing me to play; no one invested in my gift. I wanted to play with everything in me, just like all my fellow students.
Yet I look at my life now and I’m playing every week. I’m doing more than I was doing in college – to the point where I have to ask for leave so that I can take a break.
It’s crazy how things worked out over time: I had to go through three years of not knowing when I would play; not knowing if I was good enough. I had to work on my character before stepping onto the stage in front of thousands.
Looking back on all of this, I came to a simple conclusion: If you want the story, be prepared to go on the journey.
Godspeed.