The Guitar Player

He opens his eyes
Slowly
As he rolls back
The volume
On his guitar
Coming back out of his trance
Slowly remembering
The unlit cigarette
In his mouth
And the unopened beer
In front of him
Wondering
If what he'd just played
Brought anyone else
Close to where
He'd just been

Go To Church

Not that I do, or anything, but I've spent a few Sunday mornings in churches of various blends. The reason I think you should do the same has less to do with the obvious benefits of participating in your local community, than it does with something I'm reminded of every time I see someone get on a stage and start preaching to a crowd. Whether it's a Hollywood star voicing their opinions on the weather, a lead singer in a band trying to sell drinks and generate tips to the staff, or the President of The United States preaching to some adoring European crowd in a foreign nation, there's something to the craft of public speaking.

And the reason I don't think many of us do go to church, is that when I watch The President of The United States speak, I'm reminded of the traveling preachers who used to come to Sunday mass, and try to whip up the crowd in an orgy of frenetic enthusiasm. It was because of one of those traveling preachers that I finally picked up my guitar and walked out of church many years ago. I'd seen enough. To me, there wasn't much distinction between playing in a bar band, and playing in a church band. You carefully arrange the songs and interludes to manipulate the mood of the audience, pass the hat, end with a lively upbeat tune with a hook that'll last in the listeners' ears at least until they reach the parking lot. Then you pack up the gear until the next rehearsal.

And when I watch the guy who was elected President of our country, I realise many people must not go to church to not see this guy for what he seems like to me, a traveling preacher. Now humbly bow your head, while we pass the hat.