I just spent four days in Utah visiting my husband in the middle of his 40th birthday adventure. Joshua is on a journey of his own - a three-week trip from Tennessee to the salt flats in Bonneville, Utah. I flew out to visit him for a few days to support his dream of racing his Hayabusa in the Motorcycle Speed Trials. And instead, I found support in my dream of becoming a Music Director. Funny how that works.
Lesson 1: Preparation.
It took years to plan this trip. Seriously, years. Joshua bought a motorcycle several years ago and has spent tons of time and money getting it to have the power it needs to perform. Then, he had to review all the event safety rules and do even MORE work on the bike to be allowed to race. Then, he had to get all the necessary equipment together (helmet, suit, boots, gloves, etc.) and plan his route there and back (over 4,000 miles), which included planning for delays from traffic or possible emergencies.
Personally, I feel like I have a lot of preparation to go in my journey. In the next few years, I'll be spending tons of time and money gathering the skills and knowledge I need to perform. I'll be looking at Music Director job ads and figuring out the requirements I need to be able to fulfill, leading to even MORE work. And, I'll need to plan my route.
I've gotten a hint at preparation work in getting ready for rehearsing the choir. I've got my plan of what warm ups I want to do, how much of the music I want to cover, what specific sections I want to work on... but I also have to try and build in time for the unexpected.
Lesson 2: Determination.
As the trip drew closer, Joshua took his bike to a shop to get it "tuned". (Non-speed people: The shop adjusts the motorcycle's computer to make the engine as effective as possible.) Unfortunately, the shop found out that there was major damage to the engine, threatening the entire trip to be cancelled. Joshua didn't give up and, thanks to two motorcycle shops working together, got his bike back (with new engine parts built to support the bike's power) with just over a week to spare.
I know a day is going to come when the path toward becoming a Music Director comes across a road block. I don't know what the obstacle is yet, but I know that overcoming it involves the same amount of determination as I've witnessed in watching Joshua get to Bonneville.
Lesson 3: Grace.
Then, when Joshua got to the salt flats on Saturday morning, they looked like a lake instead of a desert. He patiently waited in line for the event, slowly pushing his bike so it wouldn't overheat (another story entirely). When a family behind him in line asked if he'd like to ride in their enclosed trailer across the water, he had the grace - and good sense - to say yes. That family "adopted" us for the time they were at the event as "Tennessee" and "Mrs. Tennessee". They were able to help Joshua out with the ride across the water and help in doing some last minute work on the bike to pass inspection. Joshua was later able to return the favor and provide extra parts he had brought with him. By the time I arrived on Sunday, Josh was already a part of the family - complete with a bright orange shirt to match their team.
It's amazing to me how grace works. I have to remind myself that it's okay to accept grace when it is offered and hope that I will have the opportunity to repay in kind later on. What amazing friendships are formed through grace.
Lesson 4: Excitement.
So, we finally come to the part of the story where Joshua is out on the salt flats ready to get into the line for his first run down the course. A run that has taken years to plan and a week of driving 400 miles a day to get to. Instead of being the first one in line, Joshua tells me he's nervous, shaking. He takes his time to get his equipment together and slowly enters the pre-staging line. He's a bundle of nerves and excitement.
It's a religious experience to watch him, because I'm reflecting on being in front of the choir last week. Delaying walking in, nervous, shaking. Here is this thing I have been called to do, that I have prepared for, but all I am is a bundle of nerves and excitement. I guess that's just what happens when you're passionate about something.
Lesson 5: Coordination.
The first run is done and Joshua is disappointed with the result. His goal is to hit 200 mph this week and the first run came in at 169. He gets off the bike talking about how difficult it is to get his feet in the right place to shift quickly, keep his eye on the tachometer while simultaneously keeping track of his progress on the course, know how soon to ramp up his speed, and steer with his tires constantly losing their grip on the salt. Wow, there's a lot more to this then, "Go as fast as you can." I remind him that it's still the fastest he's ever driven and he realizes this small success.
Are you seeing a theme here yet? I feel like I'm re-writing my last post about being in front of the choir trying to figure out how to make my hands and ears and eyes and heart all work together at the same time. Coordinating conducting and watching the music and listening and watching for reactions and interpreting the song and breaths and cut-offs.... And that's when this blog post came into my head. There's so much that goes into performing well at anything -- and the professionals make it look easy. But once you experience it for yourself, all those moving pieces... Wow. I remember coming away from rehearsal last week thinking there was so much I could improve, but I luckily had many supportive folks around me reminding me of what I did well. I celebrated that small success.
Lesson 6: Redefining Success.
As I mentioned, Joshua's original goal was to come in at 200 mph. Given the preparation work and the power output of his bike, it was a totally realistic goal. However, the salt conditions are causing his bike to lose traction, so much of the power is lost in the spinning tires. The second run comes in even slower than the first. The third run comes in at 170 mph. Instead of calling the entire event a failure and giving up, Joshua decides to pursue a new goal: getting into the "Advanced" lane. That takes an average speed in the timed mile of 175. The next day of racing was cancelled due to wind, but that same wind dried off the track a bit and allowed for more traction. With determination, patience, coordination, and practice, Joshua clocked in at 179 mph on Tuesday. This is not some world record-breaking speed, but it was enough to move him into the "Advanced" lane with the elite racers. And, he got a sticker that he's really proud of. With one more day of racing to go, he's got a few more chances to improve his speed, but he's already coming away with a sense of accomplishment.
I've heard this theme so often in conversations with Music Directors. Success isn't about a choir or musician hitting every note on the page perfectly. Success is defined by the spirit of the music and that ability to stir something in the listener. So even if the conditions aren't conducive to the perfect performance, that spirit can still come through.
I am so thankful that I took this trip to share in my husband's dream. I have come to appreciate this sport, this man, and my calling in an entirely new way. Who could have guessed?
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