"A towel, [The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy] says, is about the most massively useful thing an interstellar hitchhiker can have. Partly it has great practical value. You can wrap it around you for warmth as you bound across the cold moons of Jaglan Beta; you can lie on it on the brilliant marble-sanded beaches of Santraginus V, inhaling the heady sea vapors; you can sleep under it beneath the stars which shine so redly on the desert world of Kakrafoon; use it to sail a miniraft down the slow heavy River Moth; wet it for use in hand-to-hand-combat; wrap it round your head to ward off noxious fumes or avoid the gaze of the Ravenous Bugblatter Beast of Traal (such a mind-boggingly stupid animal, it assumes that if you can't see it, it can't see you); you can wave your towel in emergencies as a distress signal, and of course dry yourself off with it if it still seems to be clean enough.”
-Douglas Adams, The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy
In my case, you can throw it in. After nearly fifty days of radio silence, I’m back: here’s what’s been going on, and a preview of sorts. In the weeks following my last essay, I stopped and took emotional stock of life. I didn’t like what I found: I was putting enormous pressure on myself for not meeting self-imposed deadlines and completing work I knew wasn’t my best. I intended this year’s moonshot to spur more songs and writings through repetition; but drowning underneath a weekly wave of unfinished things had the opposite effect—it made me want to quit.
I’m still working through some internal issues that presented hurdles and will share those once I better organize my thoughts. In the meantime, in stepping back I gained perspective, and I think I know a way forward.
First, my near-term focus is finishing my EP, I’ll Be Your Sky. I’ll have a party to celebrate its August 31st release, and everyone’s invited. Even though the recording’s done, there’s still much to do that’s difficult because I’m a novice at branding, marketing, and strategizing. So I’ll lean heavily into that and hope I can finance the last items. Lesson learned: find the cost of all the peripheral services required and include that in planning the budget before lighting the candle. I hope there is a next project, and if there is, I’ll save myself the stress caused this time around.
Second, in ending my thing-a-week gauntlet, I’m shifting focus on this medium. This is my proving ground: when I write songs, essays, and other fun stuff, this is where each will live first. That means less formal, more often posting. If you don’t see a post from me each week, speak up! I’ve sensed a need to move in a direction that’s more grounded in my center of gravity, which is my faith.
On the musical front, I am sticking with the basic style you’ll hear in my upcoming EP; you can listen here, before it’s released. The goal is to use that project as a launchpad to a full album on themes of family and daily life. I’ve already got some exciting song ideas lined up.
Where I see a chance to expand on faith-related topics is in writing. Expect two veins for this to flow through: first, I’ll be creating topical essays with personal application. Second, I’d like to begin a podcast telling lesser-known tales from biblical and church history; there’s a massive trove of great stories and I’ll tell them in narrative form, shining light on the obscure, often overlooked gems.
I hope you’ll follow me as I shift gears, still laboring to discover my creative groove. My deepest thanks to you for supporting me and I look forward to continuing together.