It is an interesting concept that a person can write parts of their own funeral and then post it so that others may better understand the recently deceased. Ultimately, a person has no control over the service, but the service can act as a living testament to the joy of life and the lessons learned through that journey. Since few people have their own personal website where postings like that can happen, I take advantage of this opportunity now.
Why were my choirs so large at the High Schools where I taught?
answer: Although it was often inconvenient to the school where I was teaching, there is an underlying topic of great importance that has to be understood.
Our society has created a false understanding of success. Because of this false success, the world has adopted a shallow, victory laden ideal of what is right and wrong, successful or failure. When a child is growing up, they are exposed to a myriad of different experiences and opportunities. Most of the time, money is attached to these opportunities. When a child gets to High School, money has played a large roll in the opportunities and experiences that have helped shape them. When a choir (or any group) becomes so selective that only the best can survive and thrive, there is a marked advantage to children who grew up with money, and all the benefits that came with that money. It was very apparent that those who were overcoming these disadvantages were having to climb over larger obstacles. I simply helped to remove those obstacles to allow more children to be involved. This led to larger choirs and an impassioned following that keep 95% of the kids in the program all the way through their senior year of HS. More children experiencing more success through a blended and passionate program where all could find success, no matter what their obstacles looked like. We had great successes at contests and festivals, but it was never, ever at the cost of alienation and elitism. I am sad that this was always a battle...and it didn't need to be. It is interesting to note that the world is now starting to understand the same concept on the topic of racism. The concept is very similar to the fight against elitism and alienation. With God's help. maybe we will eventually see a level playing field. In some ways, I am still shocked at having this battle in the first place. Why would people not want to give everyone a chance to thrive?
2. Why did I stay in smaller schools and churches rather than climbing up the career ladder to as high as I could go?
answer: There are similarities to the answer from #1.
The world’s definition of success is also pretty messed up. “First place” and “champion” and “winning” are all man made objectives that we have embraced as a society. “living your faith” and “compassion” and “servanthood” are all Godly objectives. I failed so many times in these areas, but working with people who embraced the later and not the former fed me more as a struggling Christian is a struggling world. Elitism was always the most hurtful of secular human characteristics. The concept that somehow, people have become superior to other people makes no sense to me. This isn’t to say that different people have different gifts…I buy that 100%. It is in the concept that these gifts somehow make a person more valued than another is where I protest. I promise you that, as I stand before the Almighty God, I won’t be asked about my record as a choir director (40 superiors, 7 state superiors and 11 nationals first place awards if you were counting), but will be judged on how I treated the people around me, and the times when I fought for those who had no voice.
3. Why did I not try to publish and write songs for the fame and glory?
answer: This is a great question. If I were to have a regret, it would somehow involve this question. I should have hired a business manager and pursued this world more than I did. I liked getting published and hearing other people perform my music….that was fun and meaningful. I guess I saw the time that I would have spent “selling myself” as time away from the other things I wanted to do. Maybe my kids can make a few bucks on the music…..who knows?
Feel free to use for any service or memorial.