It's been too long since I've done a blog post deep dive with you. Per usual, let's start in the middle, touch the beginning and land somewhere near the future.
I'm still wrapping my mind around the weirdest concert event I've ever experienced. And that says a lot coming from me.
Most of you know what I get to do for a living, I'm around live music, artists and venues all.the.time. I love it. It's not what I planned for my life. But it's where I feel most at home in many ways.
But that's only one aspect of my creative and work life.
I'm just as exhausted as you are trying to keep up with my 'creative endeavors'. I coach, I mentor, I'm on prayer teams, I make inconsistent line dancing videos on Youtube, I sometimes sit down with friends and record it, and call it a podcast, I make digital greeting cards and templates, I create backstage celebrity suites and green room experiences, I write, I'm still considering going back to the classroom to teach Film 200 again at the college level, but I digress.
There's a million good things I could be doing, but what is the ONE or few things I should be doing. I know. I just lost some of you because I mentioned the word "should". It's okay. Maybe that irritated you just enough to make you think about your own answer to the question.
Perhaps, let me say it this way.
What talent am I meant to give my full attention to in 2025?
I'm not sure yet. Honestly.
But I made the mistake of finally reading John Mark Comer's book, "The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry" AND the many pages of footnotes at the end of the book and now I'm somehow following Diane in Denmark and The Minimalist Podcast to dive deeper into "simple living".
But let's talk about my very weird concert experience.
Never have I seen an artist faint or pass out on stage. Okay, that's not entirely true. But that time, I wasn't sitting in the second row, able to see it all unfold in disturbing 3D.
Never have I seen a backing band so calm and motionless to come to an artist's aid.
To note, I have seen certain artists 'high as kites' while performing, but this was a mix of...well, I'm actually not quite sure.
This is a piece of what I wrote as my review on Ticketmaster a few days back:
The opening and featured artists were phenomenal!
However most notable, was the headliner {Artist Name} falling multiple times on stage, mumbling song lyrics and acting quite strange. I was in the 2nd row, and it was a bit scary and painful to see.At one point, the stage lights and arena lights were turned completely black to shield what was unfolding on stage.
{Artist} then requested the lights be turned on and requested the restart of the music. He mentioned a recent back surgery. And how he was a bit embarrassed and couldn't control it. However, I was a bit confused when he would say sentences that were a bit off beat (commenting on how the "hat" of his violinist looked good - while he was wobbling back and forth)
The crowd was mixed - gasping, praying, yelling encouragements, standing in confusion, but overall in shock. He painfully made it through a second song while sitting on a stool with a member from his team squatting behind him holding up his back.
Once the song ended, without a formal goodbye, he walked off stage left, with someone from his team holding him up. A few moments later, someone came to the stage and announced that the show was over. The full venue lights immediately come on with all their daylight-like brightness --the {Artist} backing band slowing make their way off stage, and thousands of people in the arena are left a bit dazed and confused.
This was quite a weird experience. And I have not received a formal announcement from the promoters or the {Artist} team addressing what truly happened. Or any sort of future consolation for the attendees.
Thoughts? Perhaps this was a random hiccup? But it seems like this is being downplayed quite a bit. Especially online. Which feels a bit odd.
Nevertheless, I hope {Artist} and team are okay.
This was definitely unlike any concert I've ever attended.
Sidenote: Did I mention that this was a Christian concert?
Yeah.
With no real explanation, and weird social media posts on the Artist's social media pages, I still feel like I'm in a bit of a fog.
Ever feel like you are being lied to? Or something is amiss?
It's slightly irritating.
Especially when you're already in a fog in life.
Trying to navigate and figure out what your wise next best steps are.
But maybe, I'm misinterpreting things. Maybe I'm off?
Things are still so cloudy for me in a variety of ways.
Processing grief during the holidays is always a pain.
Never convenient. But always telling the truth somewhere.
A question a spiritual director or life coach might ask me,
"What might the fog be trying to tell you right now?"
And you know what, as soon as I typed that last sentence and waited a bit, you know what I heard?
I heard...
"WAIT"
I always want to know the answer RIGHT AWAY. But this fog is making me slow down and wait. UGH.
It's inviting me to put away my problem solving and my "creative works" (which I often barter for a sense of personal value).
And the current "to-do" is to simply be IN the fog.
How long will this fog last?
Well, if I know seasons and history, "every storm runs out of rain."
So we wait.
Eventually what is hidden, will come to the light.
"Wisdom's Knocking"
"For nothing is concealed that won’t be revealed, and nothing hidden that won’t be made known and brought to light." Luke 8:17 (CSB)