Philip Smith
A few days ago on my way home from church, I saw a young fellow walking along the side of the road with a guitar in one hand and frying pan in the other. “Where could this gentleman be traveling with an instrument for music and another for cooking,” I thought to myself.
Days later, I’m still not sure, but it’s an odd combination, don’t you think? My inclination was to turn my truck around, pull over on the side of the road and quench my curiosity – “Hey buddy! Where ya going with that guitar and skillet?”
It was none of my business, so I stayed my course of travel, but quizzed myself with various scenarios only to arrive at no sensible conclusion. “Perhaps when he finds his destination, he’ll use one for work and the other for pleasure.” That was the best reasoning I could muster.
I’ll never know where the fellow was headed, nor why, but I suppose there’s an illustration or a good story bound up in the narrative. Maybe he’ll be the next Michael McDonald or Tom Johnston. Remember those names from the 70s and 80s. McDonald was inspired by an essay that his sister wrote for a college class. With the idea in mind, he penned a song from the viewpoint of one living in poverty conversing with another who hasn’t a clue of the struggle.
The message was meant to awaken society to help the poor by taking the message to the streets. That’s the story behind The Doobie Brothers 1976 hit “Takin’ It To The Streets” written and performed by then lead vocalist Michael McDonald.
But that’s not all of the interesting history behind The Doobie Brothers … there’s more. Earlier in 1972, college student Tom Johnston found himself discouraged with the Vietnam War. He thought that the world leaders in the throes of this tragic conflict should just get together on a grassy hill, sit around, smile, talk it out, “listen to the music,” and perhaps they’d clam down and come to a peaceful resolution. Speaking of music, he wrote, “What the people need is a way to make ’em smile. It ain’t so hard to do if you know how.” Johnston later admitted that it was a great idea in theory, but only wishful thinking. Nevertheless, their first hit song “Listen To The Music” was born.
Interesting, isn’t it – how notable songs are often born from the pangs of poverty, war, or despair as was the case for these two well-known rock songs. That’s also the case with many treasured hymns of the church as well. “Music can name the unnamable and communicate the unknowable,” said famed conductor Leonard Bernstein.
Now back to the fellow walking down the street with a guitar and frying pan. My hope for the young man, or any young person for that matter, is that he’ll find his purpose in life. God created everyone for a purpose. But fulfilling such often takes time and thought.
Perhaps one is gifted with amazing musical talent or the splendid cooking abilities of a chef. Who knows … maybe the man in question has been endowed with both. Even so, the idea is for each to find one’s passion and gifting and use it to the best of one’s ability.
Maybe we all should take some time, listen to the music, discover our abilities, and use them for a greater purpose. A good exercise in such a discovery is to ask: What do I enjoy? What am I good at? What comes natural to me? Maybe ask a trusted friend or family member to offer insight regarding your talents. Doing so is sure to help guide you toward a more certain realization of your abilities and subsequently encourage you to grow those abilities for the greater good.
Philip Smith is a community columnist for The Northeast Georgian. Reach him at psmith@cpestman.com.