The Voice We Listen To

This morning I enjoyed listening to a good interview of my favorite music artist, Bob Seger:

He was good friends with Glenn Frey of the Eagles. They lived near each other and spent time together often. Glenn sang back up on Seger's first hit "Ramblin Gamblin Man", released in 1969. Glenn was almost in the group: "Bob Seger and the Silver Bullet Band" but Glenn's Mom said, "No, that's crazy-you aren't going to be in a rock n roll band."

Bob Seger began singing in 1963, and didn't make it big until the mid 1970's. He said he didn't begin making money with music until the mid 70's. Up until then he played in college Fraternity's, pubs, etc. In 1976 Bob was playing 200 shows a year and got to play in the Pontiac Silverdome.

In the 1980's after Bob has some hits out there and money saved up, he took a break for 15 years to be a Dad. He said, "I didn't want to be the Dad that was never around. I became car-pool Dad, attending ball games and buying pizza at midnight on the weekend for my kids. During that time I still played around with singing, wrote, played instruments and visited local pubs to hear the men & women that dreamed of making it. Chevy helped me do that when they used my song "Like A Rock" for over a decade selling trucks."

I hit pause on the interview podcast, so I could publish this post. The two big take aways I heard from the early part of the interview:

1. Glenn Frey's Mom could have easily crushed his dream, his ability to use his gift for the world. Parents: we do not know what gifts or career God has implanted in our children. Instead of trying to stomp that desire or dream--inspire them! Encourage them! Call out the best in them! Our career shouldn't be our identity, so no matter what dreams your children have - help them vision it and obtain it. After all, it's their life - not yours. When we use our gifts-work doesn't feel like work and we can bring excellence to God and others. Excellence honors God and inspires others!

2. Thankfully for some reason Glenn Frey didn't listen to his Mom. We are to honor and love our parents, but there comes a time when we can hear them---but not obey their wishes. This is true in the area of our faith, our career, and how we raise our children. It's our life to live and hopefully live it for God while being connected to Him - our hand in his hand. I admit this has been an area of struggle for me at times. I still hear by Dad's voice in my head at times telling me, "Don't do that, that's wrong, you know the right way, etc." One recent example, shoes were not to be at the front door of our home growing up. Shoes were to go in the closet. Not at the front door---or else! It was one of many rules Dad had that was to be followed or reap the consequences. Today me and my family take our shoes off at the front door and we have a show rack there. We also have two side-by-side rugs for shoes that are wet or dirty from the outdoor elements. The other day I came in the house and my wife's shoes where on the floor - near the door, just inside the front door. When I came in the front door, the door was hitting her dress shoes. My frustration immediately rose up inside and I heard Dad's voice, "Your shoes do not go at the front door". Thankfully I paused, didn't say a word about it. I now realize that my moment of frustration was because I was still trying to please my expectant Father, who passed away 18 years ago. I connected those dots yesterday evening, after my wife and I left a counseling session. The things I believe are right and wrong and preferences are still tied to me trying to please my Dad, and it cannot be done. Like Glenn Frey not listening to his Mom, it's time for me to not listen to my Dad.