Put Down The Duckie!

I think this song is really really deep! (See, I didn't say anything about how it "quacks me up".) Click on the title below to go to the youtube video of this excellent song.

PUT DOWN THE DUCKIE
Ernie: Excuse me, Mr. Hoots
I hate to bug a busy bird
But I want to learn the sax
And I need a helpful word
I always get a silly squeak
When I play the blues

Hoots: Ernie, keep your cool
I'll teach ya how to blow the sax
I think I dig your problem
It's rubber, and it quacks
You'll never find the skill you seek
Till you pay your dues

You gotta put down the duckie
Put down the duckie
Put down the duckie
Yeah, you gotta leave the duck alone
You gotta put down the duckie
Put down the duckie
Put down the duckie
If you wanna play the saxophone!

You didn't hear a word I said
You gotta get it through your head
Don't be a stubborn cluck
Ernie, lay aside the duck!
I've learned a thing or two
From years of playing in a band
It's hard to play a saxophone
With something in your hand
To be a fine musician
You're gonna have to face the facts

Though you're blessed with flying fingers
When you wanna wail, you're stuck
What good are flying fingers
If they're wrapped around a duck?
Change the toy's position
If you wanna ace the sax!

You gotta put down the duckie
Put down the duckie
Put down the duckie
Yeah, you gotta leave the duck alone
You gotta put down the duckie
Put down the duckie
Put down the duckie
If you wanna play the saxophone!

Don't have to put it on a train
Don't have to wash it down the drain
Don't have to lock it in a drawer
Don't have to shove it out the door
Don't have to stuff it in your pocket
Or send it flyin' in a rocket!
Don't have to get it out of town!
Ernie, put the quacker down!

You gotta put down the duckie
Put down the duckie
Put down the duckie
Yeah, you gotta leave the duck alone
You gotta put down the duckie
Put down the duckie
Put down the duckie
If you wanna play the saxophone!

You gotta put down the duckie
Put down the duckie
Put down the duckie
Yeah, you gotta leave the duck alone
You gotta put down the duckie
Put down the duckie
Put down the duckie
If you wanna play the saxophone!

Oh yeah!!!!!!!!

Pieces from the Past?... This post is long and may get me in trouble!

Just when you start to think you're above it all...

I am amazed at the strong personal reaction I had to this picture that someone had left on my desktop. There were so many ways to take this image, but something inside me was bothered by the white pawn standing over the black king.

It reminded me of a recent foray into Applebees in Waxahachie, TX. As I walked through the door, the quick glances in my direction made me immediately and painfully aware of the lack of black people (excuse me, African Americans... sheesh!) in the restaurant. My wife, who is white, probably never noticed until I mentioned it, but I found myself tensing up ever so slightly. I was shocked by my own nervousness as I sat there eating my food and feeling that someone was staring at me (and I am pretty sure some of them were... but probably more as a point of interest not a target of violence or anything). It's so amazing! At one point, I thought to myself, "If these people decided that they wanted to hurt me, I would have no way out." I was completely caught off guard by what suddenly ran through my head. Maybe it was too many movies like "The Great Debaters" (a classic to see, but hard to watch). I remembered being in a small Texas town on a church staff retreat a few years ago. One of the ministers who used to live in that town, encouraged me (warned me) to not go out walking alone. This guy is an awesome person who I would trust with my life. So when he said not to go wandering alone, I did not! He understood and knew that I would as well.

However, the question I asked myself when I saw this chess piece image was simple. Did the frequency of these events (only black person in the room) increase or has my sensitivity to it increased because of the whole Obama thing. No matter what people say, race is a part of this race. How many times in the past presidential elections have you ever heard anyone say, "I'm not going to vote for him just because he's white, hispanic, mormon, jewish, catholic, etc." I'm sure it's happened but it's probably never been such a national topic of conversation.

Even at my church, where there are other black and mixed couples, I recently had that feeling that I have rarely had before. Maybe it's because I am usually up on stage, leading the music with so much on my mind that I don't have time to think about it. I am there before others get there and after most people leave. But today, playing bass for the worship leader who is currently serving there, I looked out and had that momentary, strange feeling of aloneness... I could almost hear that old Sesame Street song... (One of these things is not like the other.) I looked around at the few other black people in the room and wondered if they had ever felt this way. I know some have. But I was afraid that asking the question would bring an awareness not previously felt. So I backed away.

Now to clear some things up. Because, and I know this happens, many of my non-black friends who read this will wonder exactly what I mean. Do I not feel loved? Do I not feel important? Do I feel discriminated against? Do I want to vote for Obama deep down inside just to make me feel more African American? A resounding no to all. Just a realization I still have those moments, a flash reaction like the one with the image. A sudden awareness that sneaks up on you, jumps out and screams "boo". That crazy moment when you realize the clerk at the store is still following and watching you in your polo shirt and slacks rather than the white kid on the other side of the store who's dressed like a gangsta and looks like he may be about to rob the place. That feeling that someone might, not has, not will, but might look at you and use a derogatory term. Or that if you get into a debate about being for Obama, you will be written off, not as intelligently disagreeing, but as just another part of the racial herd mentality. These things may never happen, but you know they have. You've seen it, felt it, been it... and you're afraid it's going to happen again. I'm sure it's not just a black thing either. I'm sure everyone has their moments like this. But then again, in some ways the black experience is a unique one.

By the way... I sent the chess photo to some friends and mentioned it bothering me. One person replied that it was a standard chess photo, however, if it was intended to be, then it could definitely be seen as offensive. I can definitely see that. But then I wondered, is this really a standard photo? I wondered if there were images that showed black pieces as the winner over the white ones? I was curious so I googled "chess" and "checkmate" and looked at the various images of pieces in defeat (I included them below and throughout the blog). I found that, in professional photography, if the pieces were black and white, the winner was almost always the white piece. Remember, I did not pick and choose these photos. I just grabbed what I saw. And I am NOT saying that these photos and photographers are racists. I am just making an observation (one that many black kids in America may be making unconsciously and wondering what's going on). As for the one photo I found where the black piece is the winner, that image was created by someone in another country... Hmmmm...

Marking Time

Marking time... to do something which is not very interesting while you are waiting to start doing something more important.

If you can't tell, I like definitions, quotes and idioms. This one bothers me. Mainly because I see myself do it a lot. Unfortunately, when you have a warped view of what's important, you will unknowingly "mark time" with things and people that should be important to you. Sometimes I find myself doing that before I leave for work in the evenings. Not really doing much, watching tv, sitting outside, etc., waiting for the timer on my alarm to say get up and go to work. How much time did I just waste that I could have been talking to my wife, checking on the kids or at least playing with that new puppy that drives me insane begging for attention all the time? Instead, I sometimes just mark time until it's time to start "doing something important."

You've seen it. Kids mark time at school till it's time to go home and "do something really important" like play video games or email their friends. It affects all of us. Preparing dinner, laundry or whatever until we can have time to do something "really important." These everyday things are not the important things. It's the special events that keep us happy and until then we're just marking time doing the basic stuff.

But I wonder how many counseling sessions are made up of people saying, "my parents never took me to Disneyland or Six Flags over Texas"? Isn't the line usually, my dad never sad he loved me, my mom never showed me affection, etc. Special events are important and they make moments... but it's the everyday things that make a life worth living.

Then I wonder how much of that has rolled into my Christian walk. Is Heaven so important that we're just living life here, marking time until the Rapture or death or something important comes along? I think of this song by Michael Card...

"Could You tell me why
Was it for this You came and died
A once a week observance

When we coldly mouth Your words

Are we really saving our energy for heaven or has church become a place where we mark time and check off our spiritual "things to do list?" Do we live for the conferences or the next "mighty move of God" while forgetting to love our neighbor, visit the sick, share our daily bread, love our family, etc.? Maybe we're just marking time, living for the bell.

Dear God, forgive me for marking time with this life you have given me. Family and friends, please forgive me for marking time with you. I won't say, "if I have ever" because I know I have. And I repent of that sin.

So look around and see. Have you been marking time like me?

Angelic Adventures!

Outside of the Random Ramblings, few people know it, but I write two other blogs. Both are fictional non-fiction about angelic adventures.

"The Misadventures of Rambling John", which I've been writing for a few years, is a collection of stories in the vein of Screwtape Letters (C.S. Lewis) about a worldly-wise demon and his constant confrontations with angelic hosts, believers and the world around him.This is the link for Rambling John http://ramblingjohn.blogspot.com/

"The Adventures of Goodness and Mercy"is about two angelic beings dedicated to search and rescue. "Surely Goodness and Mercy will follow you all the days of your life." Below is a quick preview of The New Adventures Goodness and Mercy... it can also be found at http://angelicadventures.blogspot.com/

THE ADVENTURES OF GOODNESS AND MERCY
EPISODE 1: ANDY

Running!

Panting... Panting... Panting...

"Why are we running?" Mercy wheezed while trying to catch his breath.

"It's too dangerous to fly. It would let them know that we're... Duck!" They barely missed the dead branch hanging low over the wet leaved floor.

"Did you say duck? Where? I don't see one." The shorter one answered. Goodness was sure this was another one of his rather lame attempts at humor. Mercy did that a lot: throw in an off-beat joke during moments of intense pressure. After so many years of hanging around him, most of their friends and co-workers still didn't get it. But Mercy never let it bother him. He called them "tension busters". Goodness, however, found them kind of irritating. He had to confess though, that sometimes they actually helped lighten the mood. Unfortunately, this wasn't one of those times.

Mercy continued to protest. "And why do we have to do this in these terran forms? I'm exhausted!"

"We have to leave a trail that lead them where we want them to go! I'm not sure they would follow us if we showed up like we normally do."

"Not even after our 'fear not' greeting?" Mercy slowed to a trot. "You know, I've been thinking of changing my angelic greeting to... "Wait! Stop! Don't run away!"

"That's better than what you said last time!"

"I was just having fun!"

"You said, 'Take me to your leader'. I couldn't believe you! Almost blew the whole mission!"

Mercy shrugged. "Well, it got their attention, didn't it?"

"Sure! But first we had to show up as human federal agents and convince the police that those humans weren't crazy. Where'd you get that whole space alien idea?"

"Remember that rescue we did at Area 51?"

Goodness loved his friend, but sometimes... Well, they had jogged enough. Time to resume speed. They had to move quickly. Andrew's life depended on their mission.

But as Goodness and Mercy quickened their pace, they heard a cacophony of screeches, fluttering wings and hurried footsteps fall in behind them. "They found us!"

Mercy's sword sang as it slipped from it's scabbard. Goodness stared at him. "We don't have time for a battle, Mercy. Keep moving!"

"I think the point of whether we have time to fight or not is kind of irrelevant right now."

Goodness hated it but he knew Mercy was right. Reluctantly, he drew his sword as, under his breath, he cursed the coming battle. "Hang on Andy!" he said softly. "We're coming."

The Art of Fanning

Main Entry: fan
Function: verb
Date: before 12th century

1 a: to drive away the chaff of (grain) by means of a current of air b: to eliminate (as chaff) by winnowing
2: to move or impel (air) with a fan
3: to blow or breathe upon
4 a: to direct a current of air upon with a fan b: to stir up to activity as if by fanning : stimulate
5 archaic : wave
6 slang : spank

Hehehhe. I had to laugh when I saw the slang definition (#6). To spank? Really? I cannot imagine my mom going, "go get me a stick so I can fan your behind". How would I have responded to that? Is there any doubt that she would have turned me back to dust if I were my normal smart alec self? She always reminded me that she brought me into this world and could take me out. She would have definitely blown me away. This is not my main point though.

It's been cool having a song on the Indie charts and connecting with a lot of my friends through Facebook and Myspace. There's even a place where you can go and sign up as fans. Fans!!! But I've never really liked the term. Fan what? My ego? I always see Pharaoh sitting on his throne surrounded by women who have large feathered instruments, fanning him as he ponders his own importance. No thank you. I know tons of people who sing and play better than I do. And a quick trip to Nashville is a real fast way to see that there are many many talented people flipping Big Macs waiting for their big break.

But lately, I've warmed up to the word "fan" I've been looking at the definitions from my friend Daniel Webster! The first definition for the verb of the word... "1a: to drive away the chaff of (grain) by means of a current of air." As singers and musicians, this is what we need. Not a group of "pedestal people" who bow at the throne of our talents. But a group of friends and family and peers who act as a continuous current of fresh air.

This air sweeps away the illusions caused by believing your own press releases. It blows away the leftover bits of our last failure and encourages us to keep walking. It sifts into the closed-door areas of our lives and reminds us of the cracks that let in the breeze. And it helps bring a fresh outlook to our lives when our songs and spirits start to become stale. We don't do what we do in a vacuum. We have fans. And that's an awesome thing.

So thank you from the bottom of my heart for all of your support over the years. For all you have done and said and prayed. Thank you! And even when definition #6 had to be used, thank you for that too.

So this one's for the fans. You really blow me away!