Day 26: June 11, 2012 ~ Singing Our Own Song

Day 26: June 11, 2012 ~ Singing Our Own Song

"Find what makes your heart sing and create your own music."

~Mac Anderson

 

What a treat it was to spend the morning with Michael Stillwater, singer, songwriter, spiritual teacher, and music healer extraordinaire. And oh yes, he can now add 'film maker' to his credentials. This month he made his directorial debut with a film called Shining Night, a documentary film that the Wall Street Journal calls "a heartening rarity". Michael spoke at our church today and led us all in sacred chant. There's nothing like raising your voice in harmonious song with others to make your spirits soar.  
Michael has traveled the world sharing his gift of music and helping others to find their own inner song. Today he spoke about the Great Song. Brother David Steindl-Rast says this about the Great Song: "There is really only one song, and it's the Great Song, the cosmic song, the song that all things, animals, plants and humans sing in their deepest heart. And every song that a human sings with his or her voice is only an expression of that one Great Song that is there from the beginning and will be there after the end."

Michael's message is that the Great Song expresses through each one of us in our own unique way. It's not necessarily expressed as actual song, although it may be. It's expressed in the way we love our children, how we relate to others, what gifts we share with the world. And our life is about finding our unique song. No one does this particular thing quite the way we do. When we find our own song and sing it, we are living in integrity with our full potential, living authentically and fully, and we become a blessing in the world.

He expressed gratitude for his wife, who he said would accept no less than his living in full authenticity, fulfilling his dreams and visions—just wouldn't let him 'get away with anything less'. How blessed we are to have those people in our lives—those who remind us of our unique song when we forget. What a great inspiration he is. He said he had always wanted to be involved in film making, but figured that was an unattainable dream. Until he met his wife. With her encouragement and support, he committed to following his inner song, the promptings within him that would not be silenced...and with a clear intention and the patience to learn new skills and technologies, he fulfilled a lifelong dream and created a film that is now winning awards at independent film festivals across the country.

May each one of us find our unique song and share our blessing with the world!