There is a reason why none of us are the same. We all have unique gifts, talents, and knowledge. It is these differences that draw us together.
My son is interested in playing the guitar—something I have no gift for, but wish I did. Because I don’t play the guitar, I have little knowledge in what is a “good” beginner guitar and what accessories he will need. He asked for an electric guitar for Christmas. He knew what he wanted (a black ESP LTD EC-256), but, at $399, I kinda choked. Turns out it is a great buy for a beginner who is interested in classic and hard rock—apparently, the Les Paul style is favored by hard rockers. (I never understood the basic shaped of electric guitars. I always thought it was just for stage presence.) Then, of course, he was going to need an amplifier….
Besides the Internet, I have a number of very talented friends to whom I can trust for advice. I reached out, and I actually learned a lot—about guitars, amps, and my friends (some of whom I have not seen in decades). I can’t tell the difference in sound between a Peavey and a Marshall. I needed people who understood the subtleties. Needless to say, I have learned a lot about electric guitars in the last few weeks. Moreover, I learned the necessity of friends—especially friends who don’t necessarily share all of the same interests.
I am fortunate to have a diversity of friends across the globe. It is these friendships that have taught me Spiritual well-centeredness over the years. They teach me of our inter-connectedness and inter-dependence. Sometimes, we connect over amplifiers. In other, less fortunate circumstances, we connect in times of loss and tragedy. The important thing is that we connect, stay connected, and be grateful for the relationships we share.
Be your best today; be better tomorrow.
Carpe momento!
(By the way, I settled on a used Marshall MG15DFX amp. I was able to get it for the same price as a Peavey Backstage II or Marshall MG10CF, my top two choices. Thanks to a friend’s recommendation, I spent hours—cumulatively, days—searching Reverb.com and Internet reviews. I hope my son sticks with it. I appreciate the balance in life—sports, art, and music.)
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