Here’s a little shout out to the thing I debated the most about taking with me. Little Buddy. My mandolin.
I remember in the early days of thinking about what to bring on the race, I was thinking…pack light. I would include the essentials and everything I read in blogs or things people told me at training and for the most part I covered the generic packing list…which by the way I still ended up having more than I needed. Anyway no where in any of those times I really had someone tell me about instruments on that list, until I came across, an at the time ,current racer’s blog.
Well you see, about just over a year before I embarked on this world race journey I decided to buy a little instrument that for some reason intrigued me, the mandolin. I’ve never played guitar or anything since I played piano when I was 10 and drums in jr high, but I decided one day in September 2012 that I wanted to try something new. Something different then what I see all the time. So I bought outta nowhere a 350 dollar thing I’ve never even knew how to begin playing. There was something that I loved about that little instrument before I even needed to play my first note on it or really before I even needed to purchase the thing. I just heard it. Unlike any other instrument in my opinion the sound of the mandolin makes me think of the country, makes me think of the farm I grew up on, makes me think of the family and extended family I shared time with there and still have, and the traditional music I grew up singing and listening to in church and at home. The other thing I love about the mandolin is the potential it has brought into my life. I’ve almost seen it as a bridge to a great uncle and aunt I’ve missed out on knowing for a good portion of my life. Two awesome, loving and God fearing people who both love old time country gospel, bluegrass whatever types of music that I’m growing to love myself. The vision I see with Little Buddy is how I can learn more and play along side my great uncle as he plays the mandolin, banjo, guitar, autoharp or whatever else this musical guy can pull out.
I always thought I was too old to start playing a new instrument (was 25), that I should have started when I was just a little guy. Sure I would be a lot better by now but even then I would have had to start somewhere. But that’s sorta the story of our lives though isn’t it? You just gotta start! It’s funny because when I bought the mandolin I bought it second hand from a guy, old guy, 65ish, who tells me that he’s only played for 5 years!! So you are telling me I got 40 years on this guy?? Touché! I learned that day quite clearly that it’s never too late to start.
Another thing this little instrument has done for me is excessively debate whether or not I really wanted to be travelling with now a third bag through 11 countries in the year. Ugh, I thought. But like I was saying I came across this one blog that talked generically about learning new things on the world race and how the year wasn’t going to be adventure 24/7. In fact, and I can easily vouch for this now, after 10 months out here, the World race is just real life with its fair share of down time and mixed in there it’s equal share of opportunities. In regards to opportunities, it was opportunities for me to bust out Little Buddy in the moments I wanted to think of home or just learn. Interestingly enough God had other ideas for me. Those opportunities came a lot sooner than I thought and a lot differently than I thought. No more than a day or two into the trip I was pushed into pulling it out to play with others. Here I’m thinking I just brought this for me and my quiet time, but Gods thinking I want to grow you and share your growth in your abilities with others.
So, after 10 months of playing together with friends and their guitars, accompanying in worship in several churches and different settings I can now say God has used the random desire to play this instrument back in September 2012 to now hopefully fulfill a lifelong underlying longing of one day playing in a worship team at my church back home or anywhere!
So, if you are going on the race and debating on whether or not to bring your instrument for reasons of it’s too heavy, I already have too much stuff, or I want to have free hands for travel days, just know these few things. You only have 11 travel days out of 330 days, you will have some of the most supportive people you’ve ever had around you who would gladly help you, and you will be asked if you are apart of a a band more than once. :p For real though, its really just another opportunity for you to let yourself be used by God and grown into the person that maybe you never knew was in you or thought you even wanted to be.
As for me, I’m still no pro at this thing but I’ve grown in ways this year with playing the mandolin that if I hadn’t brought it I’d obviously be no where close to where I am now. I wouldn’t have discovered one of my favourite ways to worship God and that’s playing for Him, and it’s more than just when I’m alone in my room, it’s when I’m playing for everyone. I needed that push and the World Race let God do that for me.
So bring along your instruments. Learn a new one or shake off the dust of one you havnt touched in awhile. You won’t ever regret it.
For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well. (Psalm 139:13-14 ESV)
