I stopped at the Grand Ole Opry House in Nashville, Tennessee last week on my way to Birmingham, Alabama. Although I passed by Nashville on a number of occasions in the past on my way to Florida, I never left the interstate to actually go into the city. I decided it was time to venture off the interstate and see a little bit of the city. The first stop was at the Grand Ole Opry House.
It was early in the morning and I was grateful for the peace and quiet. Although it would be fun to attend a show and enjoy the ambiance created by a musical celebrity, I will admit that I found the tranquility of the morning to be a pleasant experience. There were no crowds of bustling people, no vendors, and no celebrities. It was only my mom and I, and a groundskeeper off in the distance. The cool, crisp morning made it perfect for some quiet reflection.
The large guitars at the entrance of the main sidewalk are eye-catching to say the least. As I admired these over-sized musical instruments I couldn’t help but wonder about the number of people who have come to Nashville through the years in search of fame and fortune. As the song says, “It’s a long, hard ride.” How many dreams have been realized in the process? How many dreams have been crushed?
Although a career in music was never in the cards for me, I have long held on to a question posed by a teacher many years ago. She simply asked, “Do you have music in your life?” She was trying to impress upon a room full of teenagers the necessity of living life with joy and gusto. She said, “Even if you are singing the blues, it takes life and energy to feel the passion.” Her words come back to me from time to time when I feel myself getting a little sluggish in my day-to-day routine.
How is the music in your life?
