This picture always makes me smile, depicting some of my favorites from my teenage years: my favorite shirt, one of my favorite friends, and my favorite activity–messing around with music. You could often find me here, writing music at our beloved piano, Cable Nelson. It was an old player piano from the early 1900’s and it took six men to move from a church to our house.
Cable Nelson represents a dream to me. Or more accurately, it can be a reminder to all of us that when dreams change they can actually be bridges to dreams that better represent how we’re meant to bring our light into the world.
Cable Nelson was an old player piano from the early 1900’s. It took six men to move from a church to our house and became a staple. In fact, last I heard it was still there back in the house I grew up in, multiple families having since lived there.
Before I learned how to play, I’d mess around with the strange levers, pretending I was starting one of those big rolls of music sheets for a party. But the essential parts to make it go on its own had long ago been dismantled. Maybe this piano didn’t have the life it dreamed of, cornered in our unheated glass patio room. But it had purpose. I might have been the only musician who learned how to play on it, but I was far from the only one who tickled these ivories.
This piano was used for laughter, ridiculous songs, bellowing about heartbreaks, and both joyful and somber worship/prayer times. As this friend would typically revert to playing Titanic’s theme song, I typically took the seat in front of the keys. Cable Nelson developed friendships without doubt. But the best thing he gave me was a connection to God and a way to process my emotions.
I doubt this was how Cable Nelson believed he would make a difference, a conduit for friendship, creativity, prayer, and learning rather than playing for salons of people. But I hope he knows I appreciate the part he played in helping me find my own purpose.
Finding Purpose
My own path to purpose hasn’t always been smooth, either. I had planned on changing the world. One of the ways I was going to do this was by inspire others with joy, connection, and truth with my musical poetry, behind a piano.
And although I played, was in bands, become a decent musician, wrote music, and went a semester-long school in Europe for it–it didn’t work out as I had dreamed. I got hurt and discouraged. I mostly hid this part of me away for ten or fifteen years.
How many of you have stories of making a difference in a certain way that was suffocated by life? Maybe most of you have experienced this in one way or another. Would you still want to make a difference in that same way, years later?
What always surprises me is how these dreams often act as bridges to what people engage in years later when they seek out purpose again. After going through a lot of healing, I now sing again. My husband learned to play the piano he originally bought for me, and now gets asked to play and records music with it. I still write poetry, even if not musically. For me, mine have morphed–but they still include being creative, writing, bringing inspiration, and a connection to LIFE.
>>>> One of the ways I come alongside people in to rediscover their dreams and best way to make an impact is through coaching. If you’d like to schedule a free 20-30 no-pressure discovery call with me, I’m scheduling them now! Just comment “Curious” below and I’ll send you a link.
>>>> If you want a more “do it on your own” tangible step to do today, grab a copy of the Purpose Roadmap worksheet. It will help you begin dreaming again to reconnect with a story worth living!
What was one of your dreams from your teenage years? Drop it below, I’m always curious!
