11/9/2018
When I came out of the br this morning and picked up my laptop, I had the following song in my head even though I had to look up who sang it. As is often the case, I found much more depth in the talent of the rock star than one can gather by simply listening to the radio (big selling) version. I found a video where Aerosmith (the group) performed this with the California Children’ Choir. It has a great quality and made me wish for a symphony to perform it. The words are good, just needs a verse preaching the gospel of Christ.
“Dream On” is a power ballad by Aerosmith from their 1973 debut album, Aerosmith. Written by lead singer Steven Tyler, this song was their first major hit and became a classic rock radio staple.
I think I understand now, what a “power ballard” is. Like Bohemian Rhapsody, or the 13 minute Gershwin piece, Rhapsody in Blue, they are a solid link to what has long been held as “classical” music.
Talent is an interesting thing to examine. It has such a broad spectrum of coverage. A person can use mediocre athleticism and through developed talent become a super athlete, yet take them away from their chosen sport and little talent shows up. Same thing is true in music. The raw talent in vocal music is just to hear and carry a tune. But develop the skill and one might become a “talented super star.” I grew up hearing and thinking I understood the term “natural talent.” When I first mentioned this to a coach of young boys, he bristled at my words and rebuked me with “it isn’t natural, it’s environment!” Ahem. I stand corrected.
But his isn’t always the correct assessment. When a sportscaster or seasoned veteran of any particular performance art sees a young person do extraordinary things, a common remark will be, “You can’t teach that” or “it’s in him (or her) to do that!” I believe that is true. Many perform things, then when asked where did that come from, will reply, “I don’t know, it just seemed right to do it,” or some remark similar. Was it just an accident? I doubt it. I believe there is such a thing as natural talent and likely, more times than not, it is never developed or exercised. Do I think we could have thousands of Van Cliburns, Michael Jordans, Louis Armstrongs, and Joe Theismanns? (He was the last one known to have offers from 3 professional sports.) Yes, I do. So, why don’t we? Personal desires are the driving force behind all development of any talent, not the talent itself.
Personal desires are altered or advanced based on a variety of things which come our way. Being an only child, being a middle child, or the first or last of a big brood might change what is naturally there. We also change in association with whom we may fall in love. Or an unrequited love. Great desires met, great desires denied, etc., etc.
Once again we fall back to why things turn out the way they do in our individual lives and rest on the one prevailing thought: you become what you think. Too “pat” an answer for you? Expand the thought to include physically, you are the sum total of what you eat, drink and breath, and thusly, mentally, you are the sum total of what you hear, read and think. Still not ok? Remember, as we are the creation of the Lord God of the universe, we are triune, as is He. We are body, soul and spirit. The God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ is a triune God: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. It seems perfectly logical that we come forth, grow to maturity, and perform our lives in this same triune way.
The Lord’s word in English, the King James Bible, shows us very clearly these “3s” with which we have our being. Even in early education, as Lincoln was credited with saying, “What’s important are the 3Rs.” People have always known the joke which came from that saying. But, the truth of the 3Rs is Reading, Rhetoric, Recitation, and those are the basics of all education.
Thanks for reading, the Elder
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