Hello and welcome to Vol. 28 of The Underground Binder-Clip Society.
“Be where your feet are.”
“Just Show up.”
“We will see who has staying power.”
I feel a further call toward presentness. Towards staying put and widening my eyes. Broadening my gaze. Lengthening my listening. There is so much to take in. There are so many people to be there for. So much will be lost in translation. So many will end their days feeling less than necessary. How can I help it?
Someone out there needs you more than you know. To them, your presence, in whatever capacity, is a sign of hope. Knowledge of your existence, justifies and empowers theirs.
You are on the back of someones mind. Soon to come forward. Or maybe not. And maybe thats alright. Because we exist both within and without our relationships.
Although, our relationships are well-worth pursuing. Our hearts are well-worth sharing. Our time is well-spent deciding how and who to share our hearts with.
We must cast a line out into the void, and see what it returns. We must plant seeds and see what they yield. We must be patient and present and ready to receive the gift.
We must create rhythms of readiness. Stand still and open our hands.
We must get up, hit the day hard on the head, and tell it who’s in charge.
Get out the front door and into the sun, or the rain, or whatever reality awaits us. Decide to smile until we feel like smiling.
Joy is a discipline. Love is a choice. Patience is a practice.
All of these, and more, are a gift which we may live into,
should we choose to lean in.
I hope you can stand this rambling. All the while, I am still recording songs here and there, and sharing them with the world. This week I put out into the world a song called “So It Goes.” It is a song about longing for quick-companionship. It’s contents coincide with the shorthand above a good deal, and only by means of Gods grace. I will say though, the lyrical content of this new song speaks to the side of my heart and brain which do not wish to show up, be present, or be patient. I believe songs are a great place to vent frustration. But I don’t think love takes shortcuts, as it may be assumed that I am suggesting in this song. Maybe this is something I have learned since I wrote the song.
It’s been a bit difficult to get these letters out to you all lately. I’d like to say it’s because I am working so hard at being present in the “real world.” In reality, it’s probably quite the opposite. I am, I think, being more present, but I am also fighting a multitude of darknesses which do not all have names. Fortunately, though, I believe they are becoming frightened and seem to be scurrying off.
Praise God from whom all blessings flow.
Yours Truly,
Jake Smith
Here are this week’s “Quick Clips”:
* My song “So It Goes” is out now wherever you stream music.
* I am playing some shows this summer, mostly solo, across the Southeast and right outside of Nashville. See the poster and dates attached below! (Some dates are subject to change.)
* I learned the phrase “Staying Power” from the solo artist Grandaddy in his “Whats In My Bag” video. He gives great commentary in this video on the possible importance of staying power in the music industry and how he thinks that maybe the lack thereof will help weed out the wannabes. < 3
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<3
