I was thinking this morning about some of the people who have had the strongest impact on my life and on my career. My dad came readily to mind. His influence as a godly, caring, winsome and biblically literate man still gives me a high standard to aim for. As a composer, he also taught me the beauty and the power of a simple song; how to get across a central message in as few words as possible, and with a memorable melody. Many of you reading this will remember him as the creator of a few dozen spectacular seasonal musicals, and it remains to this day one of the signal honors of my life to have served as his orchestrator and producer for the last 3 years of his life.
There were others, too. Men like Don Wyrtzen who endured my endless questions about song writing, arranging and orchestrating each time we met up with each other. His encouragement to me both as a musician and as a Bible student affected me profoundly. And there's Ronn Huff, who, though I actually have only met with him a time or two, radically changed my way of thinking about how choirs and orchestras could sound. And, of course, there are some significant teachers, coaches, college professors and choral directors whose example and insight have shaped my thoughts and my ministry to this day.
So, I'm feeling a bit grateful this morning – grateful for the life and influence of those people in my past who have carved their initials on my spirit. Without them, I can't imagine what sort of hodgepodge of influences I'd be today. And I'm grateful that the grace of God led me to be in their path at just the right season of my life.
But all this also got me to thinking about who I might be influencing with my life, my words, my actions. Who am I mentoring, training, encouraging? Who am I going out of my way to invest myself in? Who will get the benefit of whatever experience and insight I can offer?
I'm thinking that these are questions you have been, or can be, asking yourself.
We've all been led down a particular path. What sort of trail will we leave?