shawnstarbuck

Songwriting and Baseball

SONGWRITING

Every batter that steps up to the bat in baseball, wants to hit a homerun. In reality, that doesn’t happen. The goal in baseball is runs across the plate, so although batters want to hit homeruns, a batter recognizes the importance of all aspects of baseball. He knows that base hits, doubles, or a triple can help accomplish the goal of the most runs across home plate. Even an out is important. Can you imagine a game where no one makes an out and every batter hits a home run?

The other important aspect of baseball is that it is a team sport, not an individual sport. While the batter is important, he needs the support of all team players. Each team player has a skill of his own. There are pitchers, catchers, basemen, and even fielders. Each person has his job to do in the game and their ultimate goal is to win the game.

Baseball reminds me of song writing. Every song writer wants to write that hit that goes to the top of the charts, but that doesn’t always happen. That doesn’t mean that each song isn’t important. Lyrics or music that may not go together could be used with different lyrics or music, creating a new song. Each song may not be a hit, but it can stillbe important and meaningful.

Just like baseball is made up of a team, sometimes a song writer needs a team or maybe just another person to encourage the creation of a song. A writer may need someone to listen to lyrics or just be a sounding board for ideas. That other person may have a different skill that will bring out another aspect of the writer’s song. A writer should not give up on a song; just reach out to that team or individual for input or just encouragement.

Road Trip

As much as I have been traveling this year, I am still amazed at the amount of preparation it takes to leave your home for 10+ days. This time I won’t be packing a bag and stepping on to a plane, but I’ll be stepping into the driver’s our 2002 Jeep Liberty with Marlena, Seth and my mom + all of our needs for being away from home.

There’s always so much to do the day before and it seems like your about to find a moment to relax, then another thing pops up and your moving on to the next thing. Then, when you in the car and your about 45 miles down the road, it’s all good and the road ahead is amazing!

I’m looking forward to our trip tomorrow and I am so grateful that this moth I was able to be with my family for the whole month. Somehow, even though there’s a lot to do and seems like it’s a crazy day, tomorrow when I’m on the road, and my family is on the road we will be grateful that this time around, we get to stay together!

Today, I welcome the madness, because tomorrow I will be rescued from the sadness.

By the river

Some people love the beach, some love the mountains, and some love the glaciers of Canada. We just have a certain place that brings us enjoyment and peace. For me, it has always been the river.

I’ve always had the best times in the river. I remember things like white water rafting in Colorado, kayaking in Oregon, canoeing in Tennessee, and floating on an air mattress in Big Sir, California to reach the Pacific Ocean. Those moments have always been moments that I want to re-live over and over in my life. There is just something about the river that does it for me.

Well, Yesterday I had a new experience with the river where I ran on the trail that follows it through the city of Murfreesboro, Tn. About five minutes into my run I became over filled with joy. I just began laughing and celebrating. I didn’t know if it was because it was so beautiful, or because it was so calm, or if I had just finally got in shape enough to be able to run for more than 5 minutes.

This run was one of the best times I’ve had since I’ve moved to TN, and it calls me back. I think I may have even had a dream last night about running there again. Today was my day off of running, and I’m feeling the excitement of running there again. Maybe tomorrow, if there is an opportunity?

So what’s the cool tie in with me loving the river. Well, it’s kinda extra special to me for two reasons. The first reason is that my last name “Starbuck” actually means “by the water.” In even greater detail, it means by the brook. A brook is smaller than a river, but it’s the same idea. There were certain times yesterday when the river seemed more like a brook than a river, but I also know it’s the end of summer, so there is less water flowing.

The other reason why it is special to me is because I’ve always had a draw to Psalm 1. I never knew why I loved the Psalm so much, but it always seemed like it was the echo of my heart. I could always imagine being the guy who is planted by the streams of water and seeing the fruit come out over time. The Psalm tells us to not be in certain places, and not be with certain people, but to stay rooted next to the river, and then we will be successful in what ever comes along.

This Psalm and our last name actually played a huge part in why we gave Seth his middle name “David.” David wrote Psalm 1 and one of the first things we find standing out from the very beginning is to be planted by the water.

Now, we live by the river here in Tennessee. Though I’ve lived by the ocean and I’ve lived by the lake, I am just so happy to be able to live by the river. This particular river has a lot of history, and has a lot of more story coming. I am hoping that more than anything, God will help me to not only live by the river here in TN, but to also live by the river of God that brings me through the seasons of His Kingdom coming on earth.

As I continue to run by the river, I will constantly remember the images God has spoken to us. “Come to me if you are thirsty,” “I am the living water,” “Be still and know that I am God,” & “He shall be like a tree planted by streams of water, and in it’s season, he will produce fruit. Whatever he does, he will prosper.” God thank you for the River, and that you supply our needs as you run through the depths of our hearts and minds and deliver us your fresh living water!

– Seth, I will do all I can to help you stay by the river of God. This is where we belong, and there is no better place to be. Even when the storms of life come, we will build our house upon the solid rock of Jesus Christ. I love you buddy, and as long as God wills it… we will be planted “by the river.”