Needed Reminders from Romans 12

Bless those who persecute you. Bless and do not curse them.

Live in harmony with one another.

Never be wise in your own sight.

Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all.

If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all.

Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

Worth the Hour

Jamberoo, Woo Hoo!

I find myself in places and situations that are so far removed from reality that I think, "Am I real? Did I faint along the way and now I'm just having a crazy dream?"

I'm in Jamberoo, NSW, where I have just entertained a group of goodwilled guests who donated money to Rotary's charity funds.

If you could see this place!! (I'll post pictures later) I literally feel like I'm in a Jane Austen novel. I have come to a friend's estate to entertain guests, and I am surrounded by rolling hills, misty mountains and beautiful flora and fauna.

I was blessed to have a fantastic accompanist, David Vance, who tickled the ivories while I sang well-loved tunes and lesser-known, yet equally lovely, art songs. It's been a while since I've traveled to that "special zone" that I reach when I'm really entrenched in a performance, yet I got there today. It was during Samuel Barber's The Crucifixion. Ah! I just love that piece. It gives me chills every time.

I am so grateful for my voice. It's interesting. Ever since I decided that pursuing an opera career in itself was NOT what I wanted (this developed just a few months ago), I've dived into music like never before. I think the reason for this is because I no longer have this weight on my shoulders of needing to prove to anyone that I can do it. I don't care anymore. I just want to do what God wants me to do. And I love to sing. Somehow, the two are mixing, binding and fusing together to create a solid vision...a calling. I still can't see it very clearly, but I can sense it's there. My "giving up" the opera dream has helped it materialize. Now it's just a matter of taking another step towards the now-hazy vision.

For now, I see in a mirror dimly, but then, face to face...

Nerds Rock

Well, I finally had my "first day of school" this semester! The night of, I was tossing and turning like a five year-old ready for the first day of kinder-year. Ha!

I am taking two pedagogy classes, the first of which is Principles of Studio. The class is mainly online-learning, but we discuss a lot of stuff in class. My teacher, Dr. James Renwick, is really funny and very passionate about what he does. YES! There is nothing worse than taking a course from a teacher who feels obligated to be there.

My second class is Methods of Teaching 1, with Dr. Rowena Cowley. In this class, I will be learning about teaching solely vocal students--YES! The class is tomorrow. Yipee!!

Lastly, I'm taking from a new teacher, Anke, which happens to be Barry's wife. She is a fantastic teacher! Some things I'm like, "huh?" (i.e. she forces me down into a weird squatting position while singing, trying to get me to feel..I'm not sure exactly what lol), but for the most part, I feel like I'm already improving! Plus, I'm doing Strauss lieder, and the fact that she's German helps out tremendously! Get it from the horse's mouth, I say!

Ah, I love school. :D