As a musician, I frequently get asked how long I’ve been playing guitar for, and I love answering because it gives me the chance to tell the story of why I began what is now a career pursuit.

 

When I was in the eighth grade I was invited over to a friend’s bonfire—not nearly as wild as you may think! It was a fun night of s’mores, jokes, and some time with friends. As the bonfire was roaring, one of the girls busted out her old out-of-tune guitar and started playing some jams while another girl began singing… I was in a total trance. I couldn’t tell you the songs they sang, how long they were playing, or if they were any good: all I knew is that I didn’t want it to stop.

 

The next day I started begging my dad to take me to a pawn shop so I could get a guitar, and I remember promising him that music wasn’t going to be another ambition that I would give up after three weeks like martial arts, archery (ya, that’s right I bought a compound bow once), or my million other goofy ambitions. With a little bit of convincing and after pulling some of my childhood savings from my giant crayon bank sitting in the corner of my room with security comparable to Gringotts, we were off to buy my first guitar.

 

The selection was seamless and exhilarating. I didn’t know the difference between a good guitar and bad guitar, but I did know that I was ready to practice night and day so I could one day sound as good as my campfire friends. After buying my caramel colored acoustic guitar with the scent of stale smoke embedded in the wood from its previous owner, I was off to the public library to get –ya, you guessed it- “The Idiots Guide to Playing Guitar” (or it was guitar for dummy’s guide… I can’t remember). Not kidding, the first song I learned on guitar was “I Got the Whole World in My Hands” because of that book.

 

Looking back on this experience, I can’t help but notice how God sometimes chooses to reveal his plan to us in subtle ways. I had no idea that ten years after learning “I got the Whole World in My Hands” I would be writing a blog post confessing my desire to share my songs and stories with others.  He planted a seed that night at my friend’s bonfire without me even realizing it, and He cultivated it the next 10 years of my life. He provided me with opportunities to share my writing, friends to jam out with, people to mentor me, and producers to record with. All have helped define who I am and who I want to grow into as a singer/songwriter. You see, God gives us gifts to glorify Him (1 Peter 4:10). As a Christian, I believe that the gifts He endows indicate our life calling, and if you’re anything like me, you may have recognized that gift and calling but decided to throw it in the back of the closet and pursue something different because it’s safer and more accessible. The kicker is that I don’t think our souls will truly be at rest while we’re on this Earth until we use the gifts God gave us to glorify Him.

 

My challenge to you is to reflect where God has planted a seed in your life and how He has revealed His plan for you. Maybe certain people have suddenly appeared in your life to provide insight into an interest of yours, or maybe there was a time you read an article that gave you a sudden burst of inspiration. What are the things in the world that make you tick? God may have gifted you with the ability to write, or maybe He’s blessed you with a mind for engineering, but we will always have a feeling of discontent in the pit of our stomach if we play it safe. Take risks. Take chances. Pursue your calling and know that your life is extravagant wherever it may take you.

 

Lastly, let God work when all else seems to fail – I have a feeling he enjoys doing it!

 

As my buddy PW Gopal said to me, “We aren’t just meant to live. We are meant to strive.”

 

I can’t wait to share more of my journey with y’all in the coming years.

 

 

Taylor